Chemicals and Cancer

Learn what is known about certain chemicals and their link to cancer. While some chemicals clearly cause cancer, others have no link to cancer, and some have been hard to study.

Chemicals in food and drinks

Certain chemicals in food and drinks have been studied to see if they affect cancer risk.

Acrylamide forms in some starchy foods during high-temperature cooking processes.

Aspartame (NutraSweet, Equal, etc) is one of the most common artificial sweeteners in use today.

Fluoride is found naturally in water, soil, and some foods. It has been added to many public water supplies to help prevent tooth decay.

Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST) is a synthetic hormone used in dairy cows.

Environmental and workplace chemicals

Certain chemicals that you might be exposed to in the environment or through your workplace have been studied for their link to cancer. Some, like asbestos, have clear links to cancer, which others have been harder to study.

Agent Orange was a mixture of plant-killing chemicals used during the Vietnam War.

Arsenic is an element that occurs naturally in rocks, soil, water, air, and in plants and animals.

Asbestos has been used in insulation, automobile brakes, roof shingles, ceiling and floor tiles, and more and is known to cause mesothelioma.

Benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor. It is one of the 20 most widely used chemicals in the United States.

People can be exposed to diesel exhaust at work, around the home, or while traveling, mainly by breathing it in.

Fire fighters may be exposed to different carcinogens depending on the type and size of the fires they’re fighting.

Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling chemical used in some building materials and household products.

Burn pits have been used by the United States military at bases in the Middle East to dispose of waste.

These chemicals have been used to make coatings on cookware, carpets, fabrics, paper and cardboard food packaging, and some other products.

Personal care products

Learn what is known about the link between certain personal care products and cancer risk.

Chemicals and Cancer

Chemicals in food and drinks

Environmental and workplace chemicals

Personal care products

Related topics

Know Your Cancer Risk
Take the ACS CancerRisk360™ assessment to learn more about what you can change to improve your health. By taking 5 minutes to answer a few questions, we will give you a personalized roadmap of actions with helpful resources you can use to lower your risk of cancer.

American Cancer Society Emails

Chemicals and Cancer

Chemicals in food and drinks

Environmental and workplace chemicals

Personal care products

Related topics

Know Your Cancer Risk Take the ACS CancerRisk360™ assessment to learn more about what you can change to improve your health. By taking 5 minutes to answer a few questions, we will give you a personalized roadmap of actions with helpful resources you can use to lower your risk of cancer.

American Cancer Society Emails

Know Your Cancer Risk
Take the ACS CancerRisk360™ assessment to learn more about what you can change to improve your health. By taking 5 minutes to answer a few questions, we will give you a personalized roadmap of actions with helpful resources you can use to lower your risk of cancer.