Flavors can cause cancer
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
British experts warn of another dangerous carcinogen, which can cause the growth of atypical cells. Recent research has found that air fresheners and aromatizers, which in recent years have become very popular, can carry a hidden threat to human health. Used in these products, the substance (giving flavor), when interacting with air, is converted to a dangerous carcinogen - formaldehyde, the danger of which was proved almost 30 years ago.
The research team of Professor Alistair Lewis noted that the popular perfume limonene, which in normal condition is completely safe for human health, is used not only for the production of various flavors, but also as a food additive. The ability of limonene to transform into a dangerous carcinogen was known to scientists for a long time, but almost all studies were carried out three decades ago and only recently, thanks to scientific progress, it was possible to obtain accurate results about the effect of this substance on human health.
Scientists said that the level of toxins in flavors exceeds the standards several times, for example, in aromatic suppositories of limonene is contained a hundred times more than previously thought. In addition, most buildings are equipped with air-conditioning systems, which prevents fresh air from inflowing and contributes to the accumulation of a dangerous carcinogen in the air.
According to Professor Lewis, chemical scents are widely used in most homes. Today, scientists can not say exactly what the consequences of the long-term effects of formaldehyde on humans will be, but the fact that this substance is extremely dangerous to human health is obvious.
Formaldehyde, in addition to being a carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer), irritatingly affects the mucous membranes and can provoke bleeding from the nose.
Experts note that it is possible to reduce the harmful effects of chemistry in a simple way - every time after using chemicals, it is necessary to ventilate the room, there are also plants that absorb various toxins, thereby reducing the level of hazardous substances in the room.
Today, cancer remains one of the most dangerous diseases on the planet, hundreds of thousands die each year from this or that type of cancer.
In the US, a group of specialists proposed a new method for detecting this disease. It is known that the earlier the cancer is detected, the more likely the patient is to recover, but now, unfortunately, in most cases, the disease is diagnosed during the manifestation of vivid symptoms, when the disease is already at the stage when the medicine is powerless.
But the American scientists assure that in just 3 years the situation will radically change - the blood test will allow the doctor to determine if there is pathology in the body, while revealing the cancer can be even if the patient has absolutely no complaints. According to scientists, the analysis will reveal the cancer cells in the blood. According to some information, two large world companies - Amazon and Microsoft - are ready to provide financial assistance to the project.