Most likely or definitely true
False/misinformation
We’re not sure yet
Topics
Acrylamide
Acrylamide (an ingredient in some foods) increases cancer risk
What you may have heard
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies acrylamide as a probable human carcinogen and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classifies acrylamide as likely to be carcinogenic to humans
Antiperspirants
Antiperspirants cause breast cancer
What you may have heard
Antiperspirants and deodorants contain cancer causing substances that are absorbed, particularly after shaving.
What science tells us
Antiperspirants are classified as a drug that helps reduce the amount of sweat produced. The eccrine gland produces […]
Aspartame
Aspartame causes cancer
What you may have heard
Aspartame consumption can cause cancer.
What science tells us
With rising competition to make food sweet and appealing, as well as lower in calories, many companies switched from normal sucrose (table sugar) to sugar substitutes or artificial sweeteners. […]
Birth control pills
Birth control pills (oral contraceptives) cause cancer
What you may have heard
People who take birth control pills have an increased risk of cancer.
What science tells us
Birth control pills are used to prevent pregnancy and contain two hormones: estrogen and progesterone that help […]
Bluetooth headphones
Bluetooth or wireless headphones can cause cancer
What you may have heard
With the introduction and increased use of Bluetooth technology, many people have been concerned about their long-term effects on cancer risk.
What science tells us
Because of the newness of this technology, researchers […]
Bras
Wearing bras can cause breast cancer
What you may have heard
Wearing bras causes cancer.
What science tells us
Epidemiological Evidence
There has been concern that bra wearing changes how lymph nodes remove waste and toxins from the breast. However, there is no epidemiological evidence to […]
Burnt marshmallows
Eating burnt marshmallows can cause cancer
What you may have heard
Consuming burnt foods or burnt marshmallows increases the risk of developing cancer.
What science tells us
Marshmallows are composed of a majority of sugars. They are eaten alone, but sometimes are roasted over a […]
Cell phone use
Cell phone use causes cancer
What you may have heard
Keeping your phone close to your body or head can increase your risk of cancer.
What science tells us
Phones emit RF (Radiofrequency) waves, which are a form of non-ionizing radiation. This means that they do not […]
Charcoal grilling
Grilling meat causes cancer
What you may have heard
Eating charred or burnt meat can increase your risk of cancer.
What science tells us
Charring or burning meat, poultry, or fish over high temperatures causes heterocyclic amines (HCAs) to form. Meat that is cooked above […]
Coffee
Coffee causes cancer
What you may have heard
Coffee consumption can increase your risk of cancer.
What science tells us
Epidemiological Evidence
Coffee drinking is not a cause of breast, pancreatic, or prostate cancer and may even reduce the risk of endometrial, head and neck, colorectal, and […]
Cosmetics
Some cosmetics have chemicals that cause cancer
What you may have heard
Cosmetics and their ingredients are frequently discussed in the media as being associated with cancer.
What science tells us
The FDA defines cosmetics as “articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed […]
Curcumin/turmeric
Curcumin (turmeric) reduces the risk of cancer
What you may have heard
Curcumin has been touted as having antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. One of curcumin’s newer areas being studied are its possible anti-cancer properties.
What science tells us
Curcumin (the part of turmeric that […]
Diesel exhaust
Diesel exhaust causes cancer
What you may have heard
Inhalation of diesel exhaust can cause cancer.
What science tells us
Diesel is a type of fuel derived from crude oil and is used in most large engines (such as trucks, trains, buses, construction equipment, and ships). […]
Disposable chopsticks
Disposable chopsticks have residues (aflatoxins) on them that cause cancer
What you may have heard
Commercially manufactured disposable chopsticks contain cancer-causing chemicals.
What science tells us
The claim that disposable chopsticks contain aflatoxin, a known carcinogen, is unproven. Aflatoxins are chemicals produced by certain fungi and […]
E-cigarettes/vaping
E-cigarettes are safer than cigarettes and don’t cause cancer
What you may have heard
Smoking e-cigarettes or vaping can increase your risk of lung cancer.
What science tells us
These products are known by many names including e-cigs, vape pens, vaporizers, and electronic nicotine delivery […]
Flying in airplanes
Pilots and flight attendants have increased cancer risk
What you may have heard
People who fly frequently, like pilots and flight attendants, are at higher risk for cancer.
What science tells us
Air crew are exposed to higher levels of radiation (specifically cosmic ionizing radiation, […]
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde causes cancer
What you may have heard
Exposure to formaldehyde can cause cancer.
What science tells us
Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling chemical that is used in building materials and in the production of many household products. It is used in pressed-wood products (such […]
Hazelnut spreads and palm oil
Eating hazelnut spreads with palm oil causes cancer
What you may have heard
Products that contain palm oil, namely hazelnut spreads, are one of the most recent foods to be flagged as potentially carcinogenic.
What science tells us
Products containing palm oil, which can contain […]
High-fat diets
High-fat diets decrease your risk of cancer
What you may have heard
Consuming high-fat diets decrease cancer risk.
What science tells us
The notion that high fat diets decrease cancer risk stems from early research on diet and cancer. Countries with high “healthy fat” […]
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)
Hormone replacement therapy causes cancer
What you may have heard
Women who take hormone replacement therapy have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.
What science tells us
There are various types of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), including estrogen only, estrogen + progestin (combined), […]
Induced (medical) abortion
Induced abortion causes breast cancer
What you may have heard
Women who undergo induced medical abortions have a higher risk of developing cancer.
What science tells us
Hormone levels change dramatically during pregnancy and decrease a woman’s number of menstrual cycles, which affects breast cancer […]
Insect Repellents with DEET
Bug spray causes cancer
What you may have heard
The use of bug spray with DEET can cause cancer.
What science tells us
Much of the concern about insect repellents is with one of its most common ingredients: N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, known commonly as DEET. DEET gives […]
Loom bands
Loom bands have high amounts of cancer-causing chemicals
What you may have heard
Loom bands were pulled from shelves due to concerns about cancer risk.
What science tells us
Rainbow Loom is a plastic device used to weave small, colored rubber bands (loom bands) into […]
Low physical activity
Low levels of physical activity increase cancer risk
What you may have heard
Low physical activity increases risk of developing cancer.
What science tells us
Epidemiological Evidence
There is strong evidence that higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower risk of several types of cancer. Much […]
Marijuana smoking
Smoking marijuana is safer than cigarettes and does not cause cancer
What you may have heard
Marijuana use causes cancer.
What science tells us
Marijuana is the name given to the dried buds and leaves of the cannabis plant; it goes by many names, including pot, […]
Mask wearing
Bacteria inside masks and oxygen deficiency from masks causes lung cancer
What you may have heard
Mask-wearing increases the risk of cancer.
What science tells us
There is a vast amount of evidence showing that long-term mask-wearing has no effect on cancer risk. The first […]
Microwaves
Microwaving (or freezing) plastic
Eating food out of microwaved plastic increases cancer risk
What you may have heard
Heating plastic in the microwave or freezing plastic releases various harmful chemicals that may cause cancer.
What science tells us
Freezing tends to work against the release of […]
MSG—monosodium glutamate
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) causes cancer
What you may have heard
Consuming MSG increases your risk of cancer.
What science tells us
MSG is one of the most common food additives. Generally, MSG gives an umami (meat-like) scent and is often added to savory foods to […]
Paint chemicals
Certain chemicals in paint cause cancer
What you may have heard
Interior or exterior house painting is associated with cancer.
What science tells us
Paint chemicals contain thousands of chemical compounds. The main organic solvents used in paints are toluene, xylene, aliphatic compounds, ketones, alcohols, esters, […]
Pesticides
Pesticide use causes cancer
What you may have heard
Exposure to pesticides can increase the risk of developing cancer.
What science tells us
Pesticides are typically used in food production and to treat insect infestation. Mosquitos, ticks, rats, and mice can carry diseases, and […]
Plastic water bottles
Plastic water bottles cause cancer
What you may have heard
Warnings have been posted about cancer risks from drinking from plastic water bottles.
What science tells us
There has been concern of cancer risks from potential exposure to diethylhexyl adipate (DEHA), diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), or bisphenol […]
Power lines
Radiation from power lines causes cancer
What you may have heard
The U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) stated that the health risk from extremely low frequency (ELF) radiation poses a weak health risk: The radiation is not entirely safe yet it is still a […]
Processed meat
Processed meat causes cancer
What you may have heard
Consumption of processed meats can increase the risk of cancer.
What science tells us
Processed meat has been changed through curing, smoking, salting, fermentation, or other processes to help preserve it or enhance flavor. Processed meats are […]
Radon
Radon exposure causes lung cancer
What you may have heard
Radon gas causes cancer.
What science tells us
Radon is a colorless, odorless gas that, after long-term exposure, can lead to lung cancer. Radon breaks down into radioactive elements in the air, which are absorbed into the body.
Radon […]
Scented candles
Burning scented candles indoors may cause cancer
What you may have heard
Burning scented candles emits cancer-causing chemicals.
What science tells us
Burning scented candles could lead to cancer-causing exposures through wax and wicks. Some aromatherapy candles are made of paraffin, which is a petroleum byproduct […]
Sedentary behavior
Sedentary behavior increases cancer risk
What you may have heard
Low levels of physical activity are linked to increased risk of several types of cancer (NCI).
What science tells us
We know less about the relationship between sedentary behavior (long […]
Shampoo with formaldehyde
Shampoos with formaldehyde cause cancer
What you may have heard
Shampoo with formaldehyde is a carcinogen.
What science tells us
Many hair care products, such as shampoos and leave-in conditioners, contain formaldehyde or other variations, such as formalin and methylene glycol. When these products are heated, […]
Shampoo with sodium lauryl sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfate (found in many shampoos) causes cancer
What you may have heard
Shampooing with products that contain SLS causes cancer.
What science tells us
SLS is a cleaning agent and surfactant that is used in many personal care and cleaning products.
Epidemiological Evidence
While […]
Sitting too close to the TV
Sitting too close to the TV causes cancer
What you may have heard
The Daily Mirror published a story in 2003 claiming that sitting too close to the TV for prolonged periods of time increases cancer risk.
What science tells us
Older TVs gave off […]
Sleep problems
Lack of sleep increases your risk of cancer
What you may have heard
A disrupted sleep cycle reduces our body’s ability to function properly and decreases its ability to ward off cancer (Shafi et al.).
What science tells us
The World […]
Spicy chips
Ingredients specifically in spicy chips cause cancer
What you may have heard
A story from 2013 of a 10-year-old girl with extreme stomach distress became front-page news after her physician attributed her sickness to eating spicy chips. The physician said that the harsh chemicals in these chips […]
Stress
Stress increases cancer risk
What science tells us
Short-term or acute stress, such as stress you might feel before giving a speech, tends to go away soon after the stressful event. Long-term or chronic stress, however, is more damaging.
Chronic stress can weaken your immune system and increase your […]
Sun Exposure
UV radiation
What you may have heard
There is no such thing as a safe or healthy tan, and getting a base tan cannot prevent sunburn (AAD). Tanning increases your risk of basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Melanoma […]
Tanning beds
Tanning beds cause skin cancer
What you may have heard
According to a 2012 report conducted by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce, when contacted by Committee investigators, 90% of tanning salon staff provided false information about the serious risks of indoor tanning […]
Titanium Dioxide in Tampons
Use of tampons with titanium dioxide can cause cancer
What you may have heard
You may have seen a viral TikTok video claiming that tampons contain an ingredient called titanium dioxide, which is responsible for increasing the risk of cancer.
What science tells us
Tobacco use
Tobacco use causes cancer
What you may have heard
Tobacco use is a leading cause of cancer and cancer death. It is also the biggest preventable cause of cancer.
What science tells us
All tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, and snuff contain […]
Wax on fruits and vegetables
Eating fruits and vegetables (such as apples) that have a wax coating causes cancer
What you may have heard
Consuming the wax on fruits and vegetables can increase your risk of developing cancer.
What science tells us
Fruit wax, which is highly diluted, contains fungicides […]
