Search by everyday product

Topical UV-protection products including creams, lotions, and aerosol sprays.

Liquid hair cleansers, including baby, dandruff, and colour-safe formulas.

Post-shampoo hair treatments. Often use the same preservative chemistry as shampoo.

Milder shampoo formulations for infants. Preservative chemistry differs from adult formulas but is not automatically safer.

Liquid body cleansers. Sulfate-based surfactants can carry 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing contaminant.

Facial cleansing products; ingredient chemistry similar to body wash but often gentler surfactants.

Liquid hand cleaning products.

Aerosol styling products. Spray propellants have been a source of benzene contamination in some other aerosol personal-care products.

Non-aerosol hair styling products.

Wet shaving preparations.

Solvent products for removing nail polish.

Alcohol-based hand cleaning gels. FDA has issued warnings about some products found to contain methanol or benzene.

Coloured coatings for fingernails and toenails; solvent-based formulas can contain toluene, formaldehyde, and phthalates.

Topical products for acne. A March 2024 independent-lab petition to the FDA reported benzene forming in some benzoyl peroxide products as they degrade.

Topical facial treatments.

Absorbent menstrual products. A preliminary 2015 report claimed trace glyphosate in some cotton hygiene products; later regulator testing did not confirm a health concern.

Pre-moistened cloth wipes; preservative chemistry has historically included formaldehyde releasers.

Formaldehyde-containing nail products designed to harden weak nails.

Oxidative permanent hair-colour products, both salon and home-use.

Chemical treatments to straighten hair. Formaldehyde-releasing formulations are the highest-risk category.

Non-oxidative hair colouring that fades in 4–12 washes; lower carcinogen exposure than permanent dye.

Topical products for facial skin. Preservative systems and fragrance chemistry vary widely.

General-purpose skin moisturisers.

Coloured lip cosmetics. Historically flagged for trace heavy metals from mineral pigments.

Eyelash colouring cosmetics. Preservative systems similar to other liquid cosmetics.

Underarm products. Aerosol formulations have been recalled for benzene contamination.

Alcohol- or oil-based scent products; complex chemistry, incomplete ingredient disclosure.

Oral hygiene product. Some formulations historically contained triclosan; fluoride is the standard active.

Products marketed to reduce pigmentation. Some historically contained mercury or high-dose hydroquinone.

Talc-based body and baby powders. Some historical formulations were contaminated with asbestos.

Pigment suspensions injected into the dermis. Some formulations contain PAHs, azo dyes, or heavy metals.

Devices emitting UV radiation for cosmetic tanning. IARC Group 1 carcinogen.

Combustion products from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes — inhaled directly or as secondhand exposure.

Combusted tobacco products; the leading preventable cause of cancer worldwide.

Alternative combusted tobacco products; carcinogen profile similar to cigarettes.

Aerosolised nicotine devices. Formaldehyde and volatile carbonyls detected in most aerosols.

Non-combusted oral tobacco products.

Excess body fat is a WHO-recognised cancer risk factor for multiple sites; not IARC-classified but well-established.

Insufficient physical activity is a WHO-recognised cancer risk factor.

Rice grain and rice-based foods; can concentrate inorganic arsenic from soil and water.

Cured, salt-preserved pork belly. IARC classifies processed meat (including bacon) as Group 1.

Cured, salted, or fermented meat preparations. Categorised by IARC under processed meat.

Sliced cured meats sold refrigerated. IARC processed-meat category.

Cured pork leg. Classified as processed meat.

Fresh unprocessed mammalian meat. IARC classifies red meat as Group 2A.

Meat cooked over high heat forms heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Coffee drunk above ~65 °C. Not the coffee itself but the temperature is IARC Group 2A.

Tea drunk above ~65 °C.

Peanuts can carry Aspergillus mold, source of aflatoxins. Regulatory limits protect commercial supply.

Corn can develop aflatoxin-producing mold in warm, humid storage.

Starchy foods fried at high temperature form acrylamide.

Browning reactions in starchy foods produce acrylamide.

Traditional Cantonese-style salted fish is IARC Group 1 (nasopharyngeal cancer link).

Traditional Asian pickled vegetables classified by IARC as Group 2B.

Deep-fried potato snacks; formation of acrylamide during high-heat frying.

Chewed traditional preparation of areca nut, betel leaf, and often tobacco.

Certain traditional herbal preparations contain aristolochic acid, an IARC Group 1 carcinogen.

Any beverage containing ethanol. IARC Group 1 for oral, oesophageal, liver, breast and colorectal cancer.

Pre-fried dried noodle products. Frying step generates acrylamide.

Fish preserved via smoking; smoke contains PAHs.

Meat preserved or flavoured by smoking; adds PAH exposure to processed-meat classification.

Dried salt-cured meat; falls under IARC processed meat.

Cured/fermented sausages; processed meat.

Pre-packaged microwave popcorn. Bag coatings historically contained PFOA (phased out in US since ~2015).

Coffee itself is not classified as carcinogenic (formerly Group 2B, delisted 2016). High-temperature roasting produces small amounts of acrylamide.

Bran layer concentrates inorganic arsenic more than white rice; still nutritionally recommended.

Various traditional cured or fermented fish preparations.

Long-lived predatory fish bioaccumulate mercury and PCBs.

Some imported spices (e.g., turmeric, curry blends) are fumigated with ethylene oxide for microbial control; residues detected in EU testing.

Traditional solvent-thinned paints; still common for trim, doors, and metal.

Chemical products for removing old paint from surfaces.

Cookware with non-stick coatings; older items (pre-2015) may contain PFOA.

Water-thinned wall paints. Generally lower solvent exposure than oil-based but may still contain formaldehyde-releasing preservatives.

Hydrocarbon solvents for thinning oil-based paints and cleaning brushes.

Coatings that colour or seal wood; typically solvent-based.

Solvent- or reactive-cure adhesives. Some contain formaldehyde-based resins.

Aerosol cooking oils. Older formulations relied on PFOA-based propellants.

Strong acid or base drain products; some also contain solvents like benzene.

Solid pesticide balls placed in stored fabrics. Contain naphthalene (IARC 2B) or 1,4-dichlorobenzene (IARC 2B).

Engineered wood products often glued with formaldehyde-based resins that off-gas over time.

Newly-installed synthetic carpet can off-gas formaldehyde and other VOCs during break-in period.

Consumer pesticide products. Active ingredients vary; some IARC-listed.

Home lawn and garden herbicides; glyphosate-based products the most common.

Combustion of waxes and resins produces particulate matter and formaldehyde.

Insulation installed before ~1980 may contain asbestos.

Household bleach; reacting with organic matter in water can form chloroform and other trihalomethanes.

Continuously-emitting scent products; some formulations contain paradichlorobenzene or formaldehyde-releasing chemistry.

Solid deodoriser blocks; historically formulated with paradichlorobenzene.

Ethoxylated surfactants can carry 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing byproduct.

Ethoxylated surfactants can carry 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing byproduct.

Ethoxylated surfactants can carry 1,4-dioxane as a manufacturing byproduct.

Solvent-based marking pens; can contain xylene, toluene, or other aromatic solvents.

Solvent-based adhesives; often contain n-hexane, toluene, or acetone.

Polyurethane foam furniture historically contained brominated and antimony-based flame retardants.

Flexible vinyl flooring can emit phthalates and residual vinyl chloride monomer during break-in.

Newly-manufactured mattresses can off-gas VOCs and flame retardants for weeks.

Fresh vinyl shower curtains off-gas volatile organic compounds including trace vinyl chloride.

Solvent-based stain removers; some formulations contain 1-bromopropane or perchloroethylene.

Newly-manufactured synthetic textiles can carry residual dyes, formaldehyde finishes, and solvent traces.

Solvent-based garment cleaning; residues can linger on clothes.

Exposure to engine oil, solvents, lubricants, and diesel exhaust.

Chronic exposure to hair dye, straightening chemicals, and formaldehyde-releasing products.

Chronic exposure to nail polish, acetone, methyl methacrylate, and dust from artificial nails.

Chronic pesticide handling; some active ingredients IARC-listed.

Dust, silica, asbestos (older sites), diesel exhaust from equipment.

Diesel exhaust exposure and night shift schedules.

Classic historical occupation with high soot exposure (IARC Group 1).

Silica dust, coal dust, diesel exhaust from equipment.

IARC-classified occupation (Group 1) due to PAH exposure.

Tannery work with chromium (VI) salts; classified as occupational Group 1.

Chronic exposure to aromatic amine dyes, formaldehyde finishes, and solvents.

IARC Group 2B occupation; chronic exposure to inks, solvents, and cleaning chemistry.

Chemical exposure to developer chemistry (hydroquinone, sulfites, formaldehyde).

Chronic exposure to bitumen fumes and PAHs.

Iron and steel founding classified by IARC as Group 1 occupational exposure.

IARC Group 2A occupational exposure (benzene, PAHs, sour crude).

Metalworking fluids (older formulations = mineral oil, IARC 1); modern water-soluble formulas differ.

Regular work during the biological night that disrupts circadian rhythm — IARC Group 2A.

Municipal or well water that may contain regulated contaminants at trace levels.

Combustion products from vegetation fires — particulate matter, formaldehyde, PAHs.

Nitrogen oxides, particulate matter, and diesel exhaust near busy roads.

Naturally-occurring radioactive gas that seeps from soil into buildings.

Indoor biomass combustion produces particulate matter and PAHs.

Untreated groundwater; may contain naturally-occurring arsenic and other contaminants.

Combustion products from someone else's tobacco use in shared indoor space.

Chlorinated pool water reacts with body oils and sweat to form trihalomethanes including chloroform.

Airborne exposure inside nail salons to formaldehyde, toluene, methyl methacrylate, and acrylate dust.

Airborne exposure inside salons to formaldehyde from straightening treatments, ammonia from dyes, and solvent from polish/remover on adjacent stations.

Residing within ~500 m of major traffic corridors — chronic diesel-exhaust and particulate exposure.

Household combustion of wood, dung, or coal for cooking — a leading cause of household air pollution.

Combined oestrogen-progestogen therapy for menopause symptoms. IARC Group 1.

Oestrogen-progestogen contraceptive pills. IARC Group 1 (small elevated breast/cervix risk; reduces ovarian/endometrial).

Long-term immunosuppression after organ transplant is associated with elevated cancer risk.

Medical diagnostic imaging uses ionising radiation. Risk is dose-dependent; clinical benefit usually outweighs.

Therapeutic ionising radiation for cancer treatment. Second cancers a documented late risk.

Illicit or non-medical use of anabolic-androgenic steroids for muscle building.

Common diuretic for hypertension. IARC 2020 review classified it as photosensitiser linked to skin cancer.

Long-term opium consumption classified by IARC as Group 1.

Selective oestrogen receptor modulator used against oestrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer.

Common antibiotic for anaerobic infections; IARC Group 2B classification based on animal data.

Older anti-seizure medication; long-term use assessed as IARC Group 2B.

Type-2 diabetes drug; IARC Group 2A due to bladder-cancer signal in long-term users.

Cardiac glycoside for heart failure and arrhythmias; IARC Group 2B based on epidemiologic breast-cancer signal.

Older antifungal medication; IARC Group 2B.

Anti-inflammatory drug for IBD; IARC Group 2B based on limited animal evidence.

Non-progestogen HRT; separate IARC classification from combined therapy.