Aging and Disease

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.

In order to answer the question what causes cancer, it is vital to know that these factors can be both external as well as personal. External environmental causes of cancer identify those environmental pollutants, which increase the cancer risk. Over 85 percent of cancers cases arise owing to lifestyle preferences individuals make placing them at high risks of developing cancer. For instance, tobacco causes over 30 percent cancer deaths. The risk of developing cancer due to environmental factors is incomparable. Ultra violet rays from the sun, sunlamps and tanning beds cause different skin cancer types such as melanoma. Various environmental causes of cancer amount from people’s way of life and exposure to agents found in the water or air.

Over years, epidemiologists have estimated the new cancer cases and death percentages caused by environmental agents. For instance, about 30% cancer deaths are attributed to tobacco. Other cancer cases are caused by water and air pollution, occupations, medical procedures and medicine. When establishing what environmental factors cause cancer, it is important to bear in mind some of these environmental factors. Another environmental cause of cancer is ionizing radiation. Exposure to radiation from sources like radon, cosmic rays, atomic bombs, nuclear bomb tests done on the ground and X-ray is a cause of cancer.

Carcinogens identify substances believed to increase the risk of developing cancer. To make out what causes cancer, bear in mind environmental carcinogens. In some instances, carcinogens damage the DNA directly while in some, the cause is indirect. This explains why not each exposure to a carcinogen leads to cancer. The extent and intensity of exposure to ecological carcinogens determines the chances of developing cancer. Some ecological carcinogens include chemicals, infectious agents, and air pollution. Exposure to particular chemicals, parasites, and bacteria are known risk factors for various cancer types.

Generally, the main environmental causes of cancer are related to the personal environment of an individual and include lifestyle choices such as tobacco use and diet among others. External environmental factors referring to agents in the environment like environmental pollutants, sun exposure and radiation also increase cancer risks.

Tags: Illness, Aging

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