I will tell you about 6 carcinogens in dangerous life. It is important to know what carcinogens are around us and prevent them. Please familiarize yourself with the carcinogens and harmful substances hidden in our daily life and how to deal with them.

1. Candles, air fresheners, deodorizers

Candles and air fresheners are often used to change the atmosphere of the house, such as in bathrooms and elevators, which are enclosed and smelly. Most of these fragrance-producing products contain limonene and phthalates.
 
Limonene is a component that emits lemon scent not only in air fresheners but also in bleaches and kitchen detergents. It is known to be harmless in itself, but when it is emitted into the air and exposed to ozone, it turns into formaldehyde, a carcinogen.
 
Formaldehyde is a Class 1 carcinogen designated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, and it can cause unpredictable inflammatory reactions, hepatotoxicity, lung cancer, leukemia, and breast cancer. Long-term exposure to pregnant women can adversely affect both mother and fetus.
 
Phthalates are also a type of endocrine disruptor that helps fragrances stay in the air longer, but if they enter the body in large amounts, they can cause endocrine disorders.
 
In particular, it increases the incidence of liver cancer and increases the risk of premature birth in pregnant women. If children are exposed to phthalates, they can cause hormonal disruption, impaired brain development, and exacerbate attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
 
As expected, in the first half of the year, the Ministry of Environment and the Korea Environment Industry & Technology Institute identified 623 products that met the stability criteria at the time of reporting but actually violated them. Among them, 5 products, including gloss coating agents, air fresheners, and deodorizers, exceeded the formaldehyde stability standard by as much as 16.7 times.

2. Humidifier

In winter, due to the dry weather, most households use at least one humidifier. However, every time you use a humidifier, there is always controversy over whether to use tap water or purified water to ensure safety.
 
In a broadcast program, they measured the bacterial changes over time in the water in the humidifier's tank. In the early stages, tap water was observed to have fewer microorganisms than purified water, but after 12 hours, the microorganisms in purified water and tap water were observed to be similar.
 
Experts say that humidifiers, by their nature, are designed to hold water, and if the water stays in the tank for a long time, bacteria will inevitably grow, whether it is tap water or purified water.
 
Also, if the humidifier is not clean, numerous bacteria can multiply, such as Staphylococcus aureus, which causes pneumonia and respiratory diseases, Klebsiella pneumonia, which causes enteritis and pharyngitis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which causes sepsis through the respiratory tract. Therefore, it is recommended to change the water at least once every two days and clean it thoroughly.

3. Dry Cleaning

We often take clothes to the dry cleaners that are difficult to wash by ordinary means. When dry cleaning, petroleum-extracted substances obtained from the petroleum refining process, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, are used to remove stains on clothes. Most of these ingredients are substances that the International Agency for Research on Cancer has designated as Group 1A and 2A carcinogens, meaning that they are very likely to occur.
 
Dry cleaners often package clothes in plastic bags before they are completely dry, so these volatile organic compounds remain attached and are brought home with a distinctive musty smell.
 
According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the substance called perchloroethylene, which is commonly used in dry cleaning, can easily enter the body through the skin or respiratory tract when exposed continuously, increasing the risk of complications. According to a study published in a medical journal, in severe cases, there is a risk of developing certain types of cancer, such as esophageal cancer, uterine cancer, and bladder cancer.
 
The problem is that not only people who work in this field but also ordinary people who regularly dry clean clothes, such as clothes or uniforms, are exposed to these substances, and they can experience dizziness, drowsiness, impaired memory, and in severe cases, skin rashes and acne.
 
In particular, there are cases where people keep the clothes in the closet without even taking off the plastic bag after receiving them. In this case, the petroleum-based chemicals are trapped in the plastic and cannot escape, so people keep inhaling them when they open the closet.
 
Volatile organic compounds have the characteristic of having a low boiling point, so they quickly move into the air when exposed to high temperatures, such as sunlight. In particular, they are easily decomposed by ultraviolet rays. Therefore, it is best to air out the clothes for 3 to 4 hours after receiving them with the plastic bag open, then shake them off and store them in the closet.

4. Receipt Paper

Receipts used in convenience stores, cafes, department stores, etc., are mostly made of thermal paper. Thermal paper is coated with a chemical on the paper surface so that the color appears when heat is applied. This allows you to print letters without ink, but the problem is that bisphenol A is used as the chemical that makes the color of the thermal paper appear.
 
Bisphenol A is a representative endocrine disruptor, or environmental hormone, that can penetrate the skin.
 
Research results on bisphenol A conducted in various countries around the world, including the United States, France, and Korea, have shown that in the case of men, it reduces male hormones and induces erectile dysfunction and azoospermia. In women, it induces problems such as precocious puberty and birth defects. Repeated exposure can cause various diseases such as uterine cancer and breast cancer.
 
Recently, research results have also shown that it affects diabetes, obesity, and atopic dermatitis, so we need to be really careful.
 
Since bisphenol is more soluble in oil than water, it is more easily absorbed into the body when it comes into contact with hands that have applied hand cream, lotion, or detergent. A study by the University of Missouri in the United States found that when applying hand cream, holding a receipt for 2 seconds resulted in a bisphenol A level of almost 60 times higher than the safety standard.
 
It shows how dangerous it is to touch a receipt for a moment. Experts say that it is best to receive a receipt and quickly dispose of it by holding the part where the ink is not printed. If you work in a job where you have to handle receipts frequently, it is advisable to wear gloves when working.

5. Hair Comb

Hair combs, commonly used for styling hair or massaging the scalp, are also home to shocking bacteria. According to a survey by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, bacteria on hair combs are 300 times more numerous than on bathroom doorknobs and 20 times more numerous than on shoe cabinet bacteria.
 
Bacteria on hair combs transfer to the scalp when you comb your hair, causing itching, dandruff, folliculitis, and even hair loss, so it is not something to be taken lightly.
 
The reason why hair combs have so many bacteria is that when you comb your hair, dandruff, hair wax, and hair product residues stick to it, creating an environment where bacteria such as bacteria and mold fungi thrive. It is best to soak the comb in shampooed water for at least 10 minutes once in a while, then clean it with a toothbrush, etc., and dry it completely in the sun before using it.

6. TV Remote Control

According to a study published in the Journal of Infection Prevention, TV remotes were found to contain Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria that can cause skin infections and pneumonia, as well as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis found in feces, which cause various diseases such as abdominal pain, headache, diarrhea, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections.
 
Especially if you live in a multi-person household, more than one person touches the TV remote, so it is bound to be a collection of bacteria.
 
Moreover, when you stay at a hotel or pension, you have no choice but to touch the remote control to turn on the TV. According to research by the American Society for Microbiology, among hotel room items, the TV remote is more contaminated with bacteria than bed sheets, doorknobs, and bathrooms.
 
Therefore, it is good to clean the TV remote frequently. You can simply wipe it with a wet tissue, but if you use hand sanitizer containing alcohol, a tissue, cotton, or a cotton swab to wipe the gaps, you can clean it thoroughly.