Causes of Cancer
Cancer identifies a disease that arises due to the cells abnormally dividing then later attacking other body tissues. The cancerous cells usually extend to other parts of the body via the lymphatic or blood system. The environmental causes of cancer refer to those factors that do not relate to inherited or hereditary factors. Cancer has been termed to be one of the major death causes with over two-thirds of it arising from environmental factors. With the knowledge that various environment agents can cause cancer, it is vital for people to change their lifestyles and environmental activities that are likely to cause cancer.
There are many factors that can be considered when determining what environmental factors cause cancer. Tobacco normally accounts for almost one-third of cancer deaths every year. Ultra violet radiation brought about by the sun, tanning beds or sunlamps cause melanoma and other skin cancer forms. Environmental causes of cancer comprise both lifestyle factors like diet and smoking and exposure to particles or agents in water and air. There are many categories of those agents found in the environment that are known to cause cancer. Some of them include infectious agents, tobacco, diet, alcohol, occupational exposures, ionizing radiation and medical drugs.
Over past years, it has been estimated by epidemiologists that there are many death percentages attributed to environmental factors. For example, thirty percent of cancer deaths have been credited to tobacco. Medical procedures, nutrition and diet, alcohol, gynecologic or reproductive factors, chemical substances, asbestos exposure, magnetic field and electric exposure and exposure to nuclear facility are other cancer causes. When finding out what environmental factors cause cancer, keep in mind that various environmental factors, both external and personal cause cancer. Research has proven Ultraviolet and ionizing radiation to be cancer causes to humans. The sun produces ultraviolet radiation and excess exposure to the UV radiation is the main cause of melanoma, squamous cell and basal skin cancers.
Carcinogens are materials that increase the chances or risk of cancer. When determining what environmental factors cause cancer, consider environmental carcinogens. These carcinogens may make direct or indirect damages to the DNA and may cause cancer. This is a probable explanation as to why not every environmental exposure to carcinogens may cause cancer. The time span of the exposure and its intensity is also a determining factor of whether one will develop cancer. A number of known environmental carcinogens include chemical surfactants, water or air pollution, and various infectious agents like parasites, bacteria and viruses.
The main environmental causes of cancer are generally associated with the personal and external environment. Radiation, sun exposure and environmental pollutants are some of the external environmental cancer causes. Individuals ways of life ranging from the diet to the elements one uses or is exposed to like tobacco and nutrition have been proven to cause cancer.
