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.

When determining what factors in the environmental cause cancer, various factors can be attributed to it. The causes of cancer can either be tied to the external or personal environment. The personal environment factors likely to cause the cancer include lifestyle preferences like tobacco and diet. Tobacco has been said to be the cause of about one third of deaths caused by cancer yearly. Ultra violet rays arising from sunlamps, the sun itself or tanning beds are known to cause various kinds of skin cancer like melanoma. The environmental causes of cancer arise from lifestyle factors and exposure to water or air agents. Some of the different environmental agents likely to cause cancer include occupational exposures, ionizing radiation, chemicals, medical drugs and even alcohol.

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.

The main environmental causes of cancer are generally associated with the personal and external environment. Radiation, sun exposure and environmental pollutants are some of the external environmental cancer causes. Individuals’ ways of life ranging from the diet to the elements one uses or is exposed to like tobacco and nutrition have been proven to cause cancer.