4 “Can.cer-Causing Culprits” Hiding Quietly in Your Home — Many People Encounter Them Daily Without Knowing

In daily life, some things appear harmless but actually carry hidden cancer risks. Recognizing and reducing exposure to these substances is a simple yet essential way to protect the health of you and your family.

1. Handmade Peanut Oil

Many people prefer handmade peanut oil because of its fragrant aroma, but it is also a “perfect breeding ground” for aflatoxin — a highly potent carcinogen. Unlike refined oil, handmade oil is not thoroughly processed, creating conditions for aflatoxin to remain.

Aflatoxin can also be found in moldy peanuts, corn, or grain products. Always store these foods in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place and discard anything showing signs of mold.

If chopsticks or cutting boards accidentally come into contact with food containing aflatoxin, you don’t need to throw them away. Aflatoxin requires a nutrient-rich environment to grow, and it does not develop easily on wood or plastic surfaces. After washing, dry items in the sun or with heat. Keep cutting boards upright and disinfect them regularly.

2. Betel Nut

Betel nut is classified by the World Health Organization as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning there is clear evidence that it causes cancer—particularly oral cancer. Betel nut is also highly addictive, making it hard to quit once someone starts.

Oral cancer is one of the most common head and neck cancers, with about 300,000 new cases worldwide each year and nearly half resulting in death. In China alone, there are about 58,000 new cases annually, with men accounting for over 70%.

The good news: oral cancer is easy to detect early, and early detection can lead to a 90% cure rate. But in the middle to late stages, the 5-year survival rate drops to only 55–65%. Avoiding betel nut is a direct way to protect your life.

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3. Cooking Oil Fumes

Cooking oil fumes are a major source of indoor air pollution and have a serious impact on health.

Notably, lung cancer has surpassed breast cancer to become the most common cancer among women—even though women typically smoke very little. A major contributing factor is exposure to cooking fumes.

These fumes contain toxic substances like benzo[a]pyrene and acrolein, which significantly increase lung cancer risk. Studies show that women who do not smoke but are exposed to cooking fumes over long periods have a 3.79-times higher risk of lung cancer.

How to reduce the risk:

• Turn on the exhaust fan before cooking and keep it running for a few minutes after finishing.

• Limit stir-frying, deep-frying, and pan-frying; choose steaming, boiling, baking, or cold dishes instead.

• If your exhaust fan is weak, consider using a microwave or oven rather than smoky cooking methods.

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4. Raw Freshwater Fish and Seafood

In many southern coastal regions, raw fish dishes and raw freshwater seafood are quite popular. However, they carry a major risk: Clonorchis sinensis, also known as the Chinese liver fluke — a Group 1 carcinogen.

Eating raw freshwater fish is the primary cause of infection.

Nearly 70 types of freshwater fish are known to carry this parasite. To stay safe, avoid eating raw freshwater fish. When preparing fish at home, use separate cutting boards, knives, and tools for raw and cooked fish to prevent cross-contamination.