Cancer is responsible for about 500,000 deaths a year, and is the second cause for death behind heart disease.

Cancer may be inherited from family while certain cancers can be caused by outside exposures. According to the American Cancer Society, a carcinogen is a substance or exposure to something that can lead to cancer.

Tobacco smoke, smokeless tobacco, solar radiation, X and Gamma-radiation are all known as a carcinogen. Carcinogens may seem far away, but almost everyone has some type of known carcinogen at home. Health teacher Cindy Miller explains that the regional office checks the school’s cleaning supplies, allergens, and fire extinguishers.  Many chemicals are hidden inside products that are used daily, and could possibly be a cause of cancer over time.

Some air fresheners contain naphthalene and formaldehyde, so instead of using fresheners with theses chemicals, try to get rid of the source of a bad smell by putting baking soda or natural oils on it. Carpet and textiles are often cleaned using heavy cleaners with toxins that may include perchloroethylene, a toxin that affects the central nervous system and respiratory system.

OSHA found that hair products contain harmful levels of formaldehyde, and it can be listed on the product as formaldehyde or as methlene glycol that is dissolved into water.  Formaldehyde may cause eye irritation and damage, including blindness, nose irritation, including bloody noses, skin sensitivity, rashes, and itching and breathing difficulties, stated OSHA.  The products that OSHA finds dangerous whether it says on the label or not are Brazilian Blowout, Cadiveu, Copomon/Coppola and Marcia Teixeira.

Foods have been accused of containing more than one carcinogen over the years.  One of the main scares has been aspartame in the form of artificial sweeteners.  Aspartame was introduced to the U.S. in the early 1980’s and is now found in thousands of different foods and drinks. It is the most common artificial sweetener and is 200 percent sweeter than sugar.

The effects of aspartame were brought into question when an early study showed that there was an increase in the rate of brain tumors that could possibly be connected to aspartame.  In a second look, the National Cancer Institute found that the increase of brain tumor rates began in the early 1970’s, before aspartame was introduced.

The increase was seen in people 70 and older who weren’t exposed to high doses of the sweetener, further disconnecting the link between aspartame and cancer.

“[The] FDA finds no reason to alter its previous conclusion that aspartame is safe as a general purpose sweetener in food.”

Many ingredients in diet drinks have been questioned to be dangerous, even if some have been proven to be safe.

“There’s a lot of unknown things that you should stay away from,” said Miller.