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How the Environmental Risk Factors Influence Cancer Development
By Raveena M Prakash
Cancer is the second leading cause of deaths across the world. This is a group of several diseases involving abnormal cell growths with the potential to spread to other parts of the body. One of the most overlooked causes of cancer is environmental risk factors; it can be smoking, pollution, radiation, and much more. Environmental risk factors account for two-thirds of all cancer cases in the US and across the world. Cancer develops in people when changes or mutations in a cell’s DNA cause that particular cell to grow out of control.
In this article, we’ll discover more about how the environment is causing cancer and major risk factors for cancer and how health screenings help to prevent cancer in people.
How environment factors causing cancer
The environment can influence the development of cancer in people. It can be impossible to avoid. There are several environmental risk factors, such as air pollution, radiation, chemical exposures, smoking, the use of tobacco products, and much more. Many of these environmental risk factors contain carcinogen which cause cancer in people. Carcinogens are the factors that cause DNA mutations or changes in the cells, and they are also known to make changes at the gene level.
Here are some of environmental risk factors:
- Smoking cigarettes or tobacco use
- Radiation from X-rays
- Alcohol consumption
- Ultraviolet radiation
- Chemical exposures such as asbestos, silica dusts
- Viral infection
- Ionizing radiation
Smoking cigarette
One of the most significant environmental risk factors for cancer is the use of tobacco or smoking cigarettes. If you are someone who uses tobacco products such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes, snuff, or vaping, or are a passive smoker, this increases the chance of cancer. Some studies suggest that 80 to 90% of all lung cancers are caused by smoking, and this is the second most common cancer in men. If you want to reduce the risk of cancer, then quitting smoking reduces the chance of lung cancer.
Alcohol consumption
Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of damaging cell DNA and proteins and the person’s body’s ability to break down the nutrients, which might lead to the increased levels of estrogen levels in the body.
Alcohol consumption has been associated with the development of cancer, including stomach, colorectal, esophageal, liver, pancreatic, and breast cancer in people. Some studies suggest that the more a person drinks alcohol, the more likely they are to develop cancer.
Foods and nutrition
Some studies suggest that 20% of diet and food choices contribute to the development of cancer in the developing countries. Following a balanced and healthy diet would prevent cancer after quitting tobacco use in people. An excess use of salt and sugar, which are two main components of food preparation, often causes health issues such as obesity and an increased spike of insulin in the blood. An increased level of salt and sugar intake also causes cancer. Additionally, consuming red meats, processed meats, and processed foods might also lead to cancer in people.
- A diet high in unsaturated fat is linked to an increased risk of colon, breast, and prostate cancer.
- People who drink a large amount of alcohol are at risk of liver, head and neck, and esophageal cancer.
- Food prepared with high smoke and pickled or barbecued meats increases the risk of stomach cancer.
Air pollution
There are some air pollutants or chemicals in the air that are carcinogenic to humans. Some of these air pollutants can cause some illnesses, such as vomiting and chronic diseases such as cancer. Additionally, these components can also cause the development of immunologic and respiratory diseases in people.
Ultraviolet radiation
Exposure to UV rays from the sun might damage cell DNA, and these can often lead to melanoma or other types of skin cancer. Skin cancer is the most common cancer, and melanoma accounts for the most skin cancer deaths.
Virus infection
There are some viruses and viral infections linked to several types of cancer development in people. For example, Human papillomavirus (HPV) virus is responsible for causing cancers such as cervical and throat cancers.
Additionally, hepatitis B or hepatitis C viruses are one of the most common risk factors for developing liver cancer. Both of these viruses are often contaminated from unprotected sex, contaminated needles, and childbirth. There is another virus, such as Epstein-Barr virus, which is also linked to several types of lymphoma.
Unfortunately, there are no vaccines developed for hepatitis C or Epstein-Barr virus. However, there is a vaccine for hepatitis B.
Ionizing radiation
Radiation is often classified as non-ionizing or ionizing radiation. Ionizing radiation is also identified as X-rays, which often form electrically charged particles, commonly called ions. Meanwhile, ionizing radiation causes approximately 1% of all types of cancers.
These types of radiation can come from cosmic rays or the radioactive radon, which is also found in the soil, and this radiation is also found in medical procedures such as X-rays and radiation therapy.
How lifestyle factors affect cancer growth
Cancer is a serious medical condition that reduces the quality of life in people. Many lifestyle choices, such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diet and eating habits, and exposure to chemicals, might increase the risk of cancer in people.There are some studies suggesting that 85-90% of cancers have roots in environmental and lifestyle factors.
However, approximately 25-30% of tobacco use or smoking habits cause cancer, 30-35% of diet and food nutrition, and 10-15% of viral infections. There are some other factors, like stress, reduced physical activity, and environmental pollutants, that cause cancer-related deaths. Meanwhile, genetic factors like mutations in multiple genes, including the oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and DNA repair genes, can result in cancer formation instead of a single gene.
The impact of natural carcinogen with cancer
Carcinogens are the cancer-causing agents that cause cancer in people. There are more than 100 carcinogens that you can get exposed to in day-to-day life. For example, arsenic is a known carcinogen that can be found in drinking water. Ultraviolet rays are another known carcinogen that is exposed to everyone in their daily lives. Tobacco use and smoking cigarettes are both risk factors and are often linked to several cancer formations, which can be controlled by quitting smoking.
Types of carcinogens?
There are different types of carcinogens which can lead to cancer in people. These may include:
- Physical carcinogens: Ultraviolet rays from the sun, ionizing radiation, radiation from other X-rays, and radiation from other imaging tests are known as physical carcinogens.
- Chemical carcinogens: Asbestos, tobacco smoking, alcohol, and aflatoxin (a fungus contaminates the food). Arsenic in the air and water; sometimes it can be found in the soil.
- Biological carcinogens: Infections caused by viruses such as Human papillomavirus and bacterias such as H. pylori cause mouth cancer, Salmonella typhi is linked to gallbladder cancer, and E. coli leads to colorectal cancer in people.
How to reduce the exposure to carcinogens?
You cannot avoid all the environmental risk factors that cause cancer. However, there are some risk factors that can be controlled.
These may include:
- Quitting or stopping using tobacco
- Avoid drinking beverages that contain alcohol.
- Getting vaccinated against cancer
- Apply sunscreen to protect skin from the sun.
Consult Today
People can avoid some cancer-causing agents, such as exposure to sun or tobacco smoke. However, there are some environmental factors, including air pollution and food and diet, that cannot be prevented due to its already existing lifestyle. It's a proven fact that environmental factors might cause or contribute to the formation of cancer in people. At Oncare, we provide experienced cancer specialist consultation along with affordable cancer treatment without compromising the quality of clinical care.
If you or any loved ones of yours are having any symptoms of cancer or planning to get a cancer screening test, then visit Oncare’s Cancer Center and book an appointment today!
Visit Oncare, the best cancer hospital in Delhi, and get an estimated cost of cancer screenings and tests, and don’t wait until any symptoms appear and take charge of your health without wasting time!
Frequently Asked Questions
You cannot avoid all the environmental risk factors that cause cancer. However, there are some risk factors that can be controlled.
These may include:
- Quitting or stopping using tobacco
- Avoid drinking beverages that contain alcohol.
- Getting vaccinated against cancer
- Apply sunscreen to protect skin from the sun.
Some common carcinogens may include:
- Beverages containing alcohol
- Using tobacco products or smoking cigarettes
- Exposure to ultraviolet rays from the sun
- Exposure to industrial chemicals such as radon
- Chemical substances like asbestos and formaldehyde increase the risk of cancer.
- Consuming red meat, processed meats
These may include:
- Continuous exposure to a carcinogen: Someone who is continuously exposed to tobacco products and smoking, or who has used cigarettes for many years and passive smoking, is more likely to grow cancer in the body.
- Extended use of carcinogen: For example, drinking significant amounts of alcohol, which contains huge amounts of carcinogens, often increases the risk of cancer. Limiting your alcohol intake might reduce the risk of cancer development.
- Genetic or inherited mutations: Recent studies suggest that about 5% to 12% of cancers are inherited from the parents or genetic mutations that often cause cancer. If someone who has inherited cancer and who is exposed to carcinogens has an increased risk of cancer.
Carcinogens cause cancer by damaging the DNA and changing or disrupting the cellular processes, often resulting in uncontrolled cellular growth. This might happen due to changes in the DNA, causing gene mutations, or indirectly interfering with the natural cell growth and repair mechanisms. This damage can often result in the development of cancerous tumors.