Be careful when purchasing furniture and cleaning supplies. Doctors remind you that 5 household items may contain carcinogens

Every person can be exposed to countless chemicals every day, some are harmful, and some have extreme effects on the human body. To help everyone understand what it is better to touch less, Health Report interviewed professional doctors and they shared five household items that they believe may have a cancer risk and should not be used or purchased.

The first is a powerful disinfectant and scented cleaner.Harvard University School of Medicine lecturer Jay Luther said that both of these products can be very effective, but some of the chemicals in them are harmful to the human body. Although the ingredients of each brand of products vary, a 2024 literature review reported that cleaning and disinfection products may increase the risk of exposure to a variety of indoor pollutants, including the carcinogen chloroform (chloroform).

Luther said he tries to avoid disinfectant sprays, highly scented cleaners and products that continuously release chemicals into indoor air, such as plug-in air fresheners. Instead, he uses simple, odorless items like vinegar, baking soda, and soap for daily cleaning. Disinfectants are used only when necessary. For odors, he said, he prefers to treat the source, improve ventilation or use proper filtration systems rather than mask the odor with fragrances.

The second is plastic food container. Luther said he doesn’t use plastic containers for food, especially if it needs to be heated. Studies have found that some chemicals used in plastics and food packaging can leach into food, including phthalates and bisphenols, and high temperatures can increase the amount of this leaching.

Phthalates and bisphenols are classified as endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with the body’s hormonal system. Luther said the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) this year classified three phthalates as probably carcinogenic to humans.

Luther said he uses glass containers to store and heat food, and if he doesn’t need to heat it, he also uses stainless steel containers.

The third is to use the gas stove in an environment without proper ventilation. Daryl Eber, co-founder and chief radiologist at specialist clinic 3T Radiology & Research, said he would never use a gas stove in a poorly ventilated environment. A gas stove with high heat or an oven with a temperature of only 350 degrees Fahrenheit will increase indoor concentrations of benzene, a carcinogen linked to leukemia, he said. Those benzene concentrations are even higher than passive smoke, and they can also drift into other rooms and linger for hours.

To improve ventilation, remember to turn on the range hood and open some windows when using a gas stove or oven. If you’re planning to buy a new gas stove, EBO recommends using an induction cooktop.

Fourth is furniture made of mixed wood. Ebo said he avoids furniture and cabinets made of composite wood, which includes particleboard, plywood and medium-density fiberboard. These products contain adhesives that can release formaldehyde, a chemical gas that is linked to various types of cancer such as nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia.

Try choosing solid wood furniture, or look for products labeled formaldehyde-free, Ebo says.

Finally, there are waterproof and stain-resistant products. Luther said he would avoid purchasing any waterproof and stain-resistant products, such as furniture and flooring, that may contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a type of persistent chemicals that are used to repel water, oil and stains and are often referred to as “forever chemicals.”

Some chemicals in the PFAS family have been linked to cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as a human carcinogen and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as a probable carcinogen.