Urban myths put to rest in cancer study: [1 All-round Country Edition]
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 04 Feb 2008: 3.
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Abstract
“Cigarettes are the only consumer product which are lethal when used in accordance with the manufacturer’s intention. In terms of proven risk, tobacco smoking and asbestos are equal in terms of the nature of the evidence; but in terms of numbers of people dying, tobacco is far worse.”
“People are incredibly confused,” Professor [Brendan Stewart] said. “When they read stories in the media about different studies in isolation it is difficult for them to know how much concern they should attach to it.
“Professor Stewart has been quite clever; he has taken the likelihood of the chemical causing cancer and married that with the likelihood of exposure and developed a sliding scale to put chemicals in a high- or low-risk category. He has brought together a lot of useful data so the public are not unduly frightened by the myriad of reports.”
Full Text
MOBILE phones, deodorants and coffee are extremely unlikely to cause cancer, according to a new risk report designed to combat urban myths about what causes the disease.
But Australian cancer specialist Professor Brendan Stewart, put smoking, drinking alcohol and deliberate exposure to sunlight in the highest risk bracket.
His report is published today in the academic journal Mutation Research Reviews, coinciding with World Cancer Day.
The aim of the myth-busting exercise was to calm public fears and prevent pointless hysteria, focusing instead on the real causes of cancer. Endless media articles had left the public confused and alarmed, said Professor Stewart from the University of NSW.
His article, titled “Banding carcinogenic risks in developed countries: A procedural basis for qualitative assessment”, looks at all the available research to determine not just which chemicals or activities are most likely to cause cancer, but also which are of greatest threat to the public.
He said the most ridiculous myths were that there was asbestos in tampons and that dioxins could leach out of plastic and into water bottles, for example if those bottles were left in a warm car.
Also extremely unlikely to cause cancer, despite public fears, are coffee, artificial sweeteners, deodorants, dental fillings and breast implants.
Of proven risk, and absolutely top of the list, is smoking tobacco, followed by passive smoking.
“In terms of most deaths caused and the potential to save the most lives, cigarettes are number one,” he said.
“Cigarettes are the only consumer product which are lethal when used in accordance with the manufacturer’s intention. In terms of proven risk, tobacco smoking and asbestos are equal in terms of the nature of the evidence; but in terms of numbers of people dying, tobacco is far worse.”
Professor Stewart said drinking alcohol, deliberate exposure to sunlight and occupational exposure to some chemicals, including asbestos, were all proven to cause cancer.
Air pollution, solarium tanning, smoking marijuana and some chemicals in processed meats are all likely to cause cancer, but this has yet to be definitely proven.
“People are incredibly confused,” Professor Stewart said. “When they read stories in the media about different studies in isolation it is difficult for them to know how much concern they should attach to it.
“I found a way of ordering the evidence in terms of carcinogenicity and the evidence of the circumstances of exposure. It is important to ensure that attention given to proven means of preventing cancer is not reduced by unnecessary public concern about risks that may have no impact at all.”
Cancer Council of Australia chief executive Ian Olver said the study was very useful in enabling people to put the risks they had heard about in one-off studies in perspective.
“Professor Stewart has been quite clever; he has taken the likelihood of the chemical causing cancer and married that with the likelihood of exposure and developed a sliding scale to put chemicals in a high- or low-risk category. He has brought together a lot of useful data so the public are not unduly frightened by the myriad of reports.”
FOR THE RECORD
Cancer and the risks
High risk: Cigarettes, alcohol, deliberate exposure to sunlight and some relatively rare cancer drugs
Likely risk: Smoking marijuana, solariums, eating large quantities of processed meat and living near a waste dump
Less risk: Hair dye, living near power lines
Inadequate evidence: Mobile phone use, cosmetics and food additives
All but ruled out: Artificial sweeteners, coffee, deodorant, dental fillings, breast implants and fluoridated water