Lower Your Cancer Risk
The President’s Cancer Panel warned on Thursday that environmentally caused cancers are 'grossly underestimated' and 'needlessly devastate American lives.'
The report urged the president to take strong action to lower Americans’ widespread exposure to compounds that cause cancer. The National Cancer Institute says that 2/3 of cancers in Americans are due to environmental exposures and lifestyle choices. The panel highlighted exposure to Bisphenol A (in plastic containers), radon, benzene and formaldehyde. The report recommends efforts to better inform citizens about cancer risks they are exposed to, and stricter regulation of chemicals.
Lance Armstrong served on the panel in the past. The panel was appointed by former president George W. Bush.
41 percent of Americans will get cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. The panel recommended that people make fewer and shorter cell phone calls until studies can determine whether cell phone use slightly increases cancer risks. Other ways to reduce exposures are to avoid vehicle exhaust, drive less, avoid formaldehyde-containing cabinets, use alternatives to tetrachloroethylene in dry cleaning and avoid pesticides.
For more information on ways to lower your cancer risk, visit the City of Aspen Environmental Health Department’s Website at http://www.aspenpitkin.com/Departments/Environmental-Health/Disease-Prevention/Cancer-Prevention/.
Also, watch for free samples of non-toxic fertilizers and herbicides from the City’s Environmental Health Department starting in June!
|