Health

40 Everyday Activities That Can Cause Cancer

5. When you pump gas, you might be harming your body. Filling up the car with gas is something that most people do regularly. However, it’s… Trista - June 17, 2019

Pumping gas is something that many of us do regularly. Shutterstock

5. When you pump gas, you might be harming your body.

Filling up the car with gas is something that most people do regularly. However, it’s critical not to add more gas after the nozzle clicks off. By adding even just a little bit more gas, you are increasing your risk of cancer.

The extra fuel could impact the pump’s vapor recovery system and potentially release cancer-causing chemicals like benzene into the air you’re breathing. The next time you fill up your tank, be sure to stop pumping once you hear the nozzle click. The extra gas is not worth risking your health.

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Many people use store-bought laundry detergents when doing their laundry. Shutterstock

4. Using certain laundry detergents can cause cancer.

It seems harmless enough to do your laundry. We all have to wash our dirty laundry at some point, and for those that have children, you may be doing twice as much laundry. Your detergent removes stains, and may be leaving behind a toxic chemical. To be safe, it’s essential to understand what chemicals are in your laundry detergent.

Some detergents contain chemicals that can potentially cause cancer. Some scented laundry detergents include the carcinogens acetaldehyde and benzene, both of which can be detrimental. Benzene causes leukemia and other blood cancers, while acetaldehyde has been shown to cause nasal and throat cancer. You would never want to put yourself or your family at risk, so the next time you go shopping for detergent, be sure to check the ingredients.

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There are scented candles fit for every scent and season. Shutterstock

3. Scented candles can be harmful to your health.

Scented candles are often used to create a soothing, calming environment. Since there are scented candles for every season and scent, it is not uncommon for them to be used year-round. While they may provide immediate relaxation, they can also do a large amount of damage down the road.

Scented candles can be full of potentially dangerous chemicals like benzene and toluene. Breathing in those chemicals regularly could increase your risk of cancer. Not all scented candles contain these hazardous chemicals, but sometimes the risk is not worth the reward.

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Falling asleep with the TV on is extremely common. Shutterstock

2. Sleeping with the TV on can harm your health.

If you’re known to fall asleep while watching your favorite TV show or just simply having the background noise, you may want to reconsider. Your TV emanates an artificial light that has been linked to two types of cancer.

Although you may be sleeping, the light at night is still impacting your body, even without you knowing it. Some people argue that they need the background noise to fall asleep, so if you need the TV on to fall asleep, you could try to set a timer to limit your risk and exposure.

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Flossing is important but often missed part of an effective oral routine. Shutterstock

1. Skipping out on flossing is terrible for your oral hygiene.

An effective oral routine includes brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash. If you’re like the majority of people, you may not be doing all three. Perhaps you’re doing some combination of the three, but not all. To stay healthy, it’s essential you brush, floss, and use mouthwash.

Failing to floss can increase the risk of gum disease. Once you have gum disease, you are at an increased risk of developing more serious health issues such as cancer. Coming up with a routine that you can stick with can help ensure you don’t miss this critical step. Don’t wait; start flossing tonight.

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