Many people come into contact with these 5 carcinogens hidden in their homes every day without knowing it! Check to see if you are among them.

In our daily lives, there are some carcinogens that we have overlooked. Understanding these substances and taking appropriate measures to reduce exposure is crucial to the health of us and our families. Next, we will reveal several potential carcinogens that may exist around us.

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1. Peanut oil

Many people think that locally squeezed peanut oil is more fragrant and like to buy some to eat.

We would like to remind you that although the peanut oils made from local products sound natural, they are actually the "nest" of aflatoxin. Because these oils have not been refined, it is easy for aflatoxin to "settle down". Local peanut oils have always been the hardest hit area for excessive levels of aflatoxin, a strong carcinogen.

In 2015, my country conducted a survey on the contamination of 4 types of aflatoxins in 738 samples of edible vegetable oils sold in 8 provinces. The results showed that the aflatoxin contamination in bulk vegetable oils (locally pressed oils) was significantly higher than that in packaged samples.

In 2016, the monitoring of aflatoxin contamination in peanut oil in Fujian Province also showed that the samples with excessive aflatoxin were all bulk samples (oil pressed from local soil).

In 2017, Guangdong Province conducted an investigation on aflatoxin B1 in peanut oil produced in small workshops and found that the aflatoxin B1 content in peanut oil produced in small workshops exceeded the standard by 11.8% and the detection rate was as high as 56.9%.

In 2019, the Public Security Bureau of Shunde District, Foshan City, reported that a couple who owned a grocery store were detained for long-term sales of locally squeezed peanut oil with seriously excessive aflatoxin levels.

· It is reported that since 2018, the Shunde Public Security Bureau of Foshan has investigated and dealt with 35 cases of excessive aflatoxin B1 in peanut oil, arrested 48 suspects and detained 47 people.

In addition to native peanut oil, aflatoxin may also be present in moldy peanuts, corn and other grain and oil products. So, if it is moldy, try not to eat it.

But don’t worry, our cutting boards and chopsticks will not grow aflatoxin.

Because aflatoxin is very picky, it needs a specific environment and nutrients to grow. Our cutting boards and chopsticks are not its "dishes". According to the results of global food safety risk assessment, aflatoxin mainly contaminates grains, nuts and seeds, as well as milk and other foods. Among them, corn and peanuts are the most serious and common contamination. So far, there has been no aflatoxin poisoning caused by chopsticks (including cutting boards) contaminated by aflatoxin.

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2. Betel nut and betel nut chews

In recent years, many people have developed the habit of chewing betel nut.

However, betel nut is a Class 1 carcinogen defined by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) under the World Health Organization, including betel nut, betel nut chewing blocks containing tobacco, and betel nut chewing blocks without tobacco. Class 1 carcinogens refer to substances with clear carcinogenic effects, which can cause oral cancer. Moreover, chewing betel nut is highly addictive. Once you start chewing, it may be difficult to quit.

Speaking of the harm of betel nut, a study in Bangladesh revealed its horror. The study found that among people who eat betel nut, deaths due to various causes accounted for 14.1%, and deaths due to cancer were as high as 24.2%. This is not a small number, so friends should be vigilant!

In China, Hunan can be said to be a gathering place for "loyal fans" of betel nut, but this has also made the people of Hunan pay a heavy price - the incidence of oral cancer is 20 times higher than the national average! In 2017, oral cancer in men entered the top ten cancer incidence in Hunan Province for the first time. The five-year survival rate of oral cancer is only 30%~50%. As a highly lethal cancer, even if surgery is performed, more than half of the patients will die due to recurrence after surgery.

I hope everyone can cherish life and stay away from betel nut.

3. Wine

Wine has a special tradition and status in our lives.

However, alcohol has long been classified as a Class 1 carcinogen by IARC (there is sufficient evidence of its risk to humans), and alcohol is like an uninvited guest at a party, sneaking into our bodies and starting to cause trouble. It is associated with at least seven types of cancer, including oropharyngeal, laryngeal, esophageal, liver, colon, rectum and breast.

And there is no such thing as a "safe dose" of alcohol. Just like those Lego blocks that are stacked higher and higher, the risks are also stacked higher and higher. The more you drink, the greater the risk. Even a small drink can make our risk index "climb".

For example, if you drink 50 grams of alcohol a day, it's like writing a big check on your health account. The risk of oral cancer and pharyngeal cancer will increase by 2.1 times, the risk of esophageal cancer, laryngeal cancer and hypertension will double, and the risk of breast cancer will soar by 55%.

So, for the sake of our health, let us all firmly say "no" to alcohol.

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4. Oil smoke

Fumes produced during cooking are one of the main sources of indoor air pollution and pose a serious threat to human health.

Statistics show that lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer to become the most common cancer among women. When it comes to lung cancer, the first thing that comes to mind is smoking. However, women usually have a low smoking rate, so why is the incidence of lung cancer so high? One reason is high temperature fumes.

Studies have shown that among non-smoking females, those who are exposed to cooking fumes for a long time have a 3.79-fold increased risk of lung cancer. Harmful substances in cooking fumes, such as benzopyrene and acrolein, have the risk of inducing lung cancer. Therefore, a good range hood must be equipped in the kitchen.

Always turn on the range hood before cooking. After cooking, keep it on for a few minutes to remove the remaining oil smoke. When cooking, reduce the production of oil smoke such as stir-frying, frying, and deep-frying. Use more cooking methods such as steaming, boiling, baking, and cold salad. If the range hood is not effective, you can also use a microwave oven, oven, and other tools instead of open flame cooking.

5. Sashimi, drunken crab, etc.

Friends who travel to the southern coastal areas may have eaten freshwater fish and shrimp foods such as sashimi, sashimi porridge, and hot pot. However, there is a very common parasite in freshwater fish - Clonorchis sinensis, also known as liver fluke, which is one of the parasites with the highest infection rate in my country.

Many people don’t know that liver fluke is also a Class 1 carcinogen.

Eating raw freshwater fish is the most important factor causing liver fluke infection. In areas where people have the habit of eating raw freshwater fish (such as Guangdong), the infection rate of liver fluke is quite high. In recent years, the infection rate of parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and whipworms has been declining, but the infection rate of liver fluke has been increasing in some areas (such as Guangdong), largely because people in these areas like to eat raw freshwater fish.

At present, it is known that nearly 70 kinds of freshwater aquatic products can be infected with liver flukes. For example, a survey found that the infection rate of grass carp reached 75%, the infection rate of bighead carp in Nanhai District of Foshan City was 87%, and the infection rate of wheat ear fish in Sanshui District was 100%. Therefore, we remind everyone not to eat freshwater fish and shrimp raw. In addition, when cooking freshwater fish and shrimp at home, you should also pay attention to separating raw and cooked cutting boards, knives, and containers to prevent cross contamination.

Author: Ruan Guangfeng, Deputy Director of Kexin Food and Health Information Exchange Center

Review丨Zhang Yu, Researcher, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Doctor of Medicine