15 things you think may cause cancer but don’t

Some people are still suspicious of microwaves, believing the cooking method makes food radioactive. Not so, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The group explains, “Microwave ovens can cook food, but they do not otherwise change the chemical or molecular structure of it.” Not so fast, say the suspicious-minded person. Doesn’t a microwave emit radiation? It does not: “Microwave ovens are designed so that the microwaves are contained within the oven itself,” the ACS states. When used according to instructions, there is no evidence they pose a health risk to people.

Your microwave can do more than just heat up leftovers. Check out these 10 microwave hacks every cook should know.

While some early research found a link between artificial sweeteners and bladder cancer in laboratory animals, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that further research failed to confirm the findings. However, everyone could benefit from cutting back on the sweet stuff. Artificial sweeteners can be harmful to your health by messing with your metabolism and raising your risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease.

You’ll often find that apples are coated with wax to extend shelf life and to make the fruit look enticing. Although some will claim the wax is carcinogenic, it most certainly is not, according to Dr Patricia Rich, Medical Oncology Director at the Cancer Treatment Center of America (CTCA). While there are some credible concerns about carcinogenic pesticides that might be trapped under the wax, you can take care of that problem by rinsing fruit with water and scrubbing them with a soft brush, she says. “Wax on apples doesn’t cause cancer, but high amounts of pesticides can.”

A viral rumour has been going around that drinking cold water after meals can cause cancer, but it doesn’t, assures Dr Rich. “The fear was that drinking cold water will solidify fat which will then accumulate in the intestines and lead to cancer, but this is not proven or plausible,” Dr Rich explains. “The acidity in the stomach is high, so everything is broken down.”

The claim that turning on your AC after your car has been running will spew benzene – a carcinogen – into the cabin is false. No studies support this rumour at all, Dr Rich says. In fact, studies show that exposure to benzene is higher in cars in the winter than the summer, ruling out air conditioners as a culprit.

Any cavities you had filled a while back are likely to have mercury in them. Too much mercury can be bad for your brain, but it isn’t a carcinogen; what’s more, those mercury fillings also included silver, tin and copper. According to the American Dental Association, the combination of these metals makes the fillings, known as dental amalgams, safe.

While we’re on the subject of teeth, find out 12 common teeth cleaning mistakes that makes dentists cringe.

The majority of data doesn’t point to an increased risk of cancer for people who regularly colour or straighten their hair, but a 2017 study in the journal Carcinogenesis, did indicate a higher risk of breast cancer, especially among African-American women using dark hair dyes. Older studies raised concerns that constant exposure to dyes could put hairdressers and barbers at a higher risk of bladder cancer. More recent data calls that into question. Although the evidence points to little increased risk of cancer, there doesn’t seem to be an absolute consensus yet.

The NCI says there is no truth as of yet to the rumour that antiperspirant causes cancer. “The best studies so far have found no evidence linking the chemicals typically found in antiperspirants and deodorants with changes in breast tissue,” the Institute reports in a fact sheet.

People have long been suspicious of these handy devices, but there’s no need to be. As the NCI experts explain, cancer develops as a result of genetic mutations, and mobiles emit a type of low-frequency energy that isn’t capable of damaging the DNA inside cells. And although researchers continue to study this potential link, there are no definitive findings linking mobile phones and cancer risk.

Feel anxious when you don’t have your phone handy? You may be in need of a break from social media, and this 10 step digital detox may just help you break up with Facebook.

Power lines emit both electric and magnetic energy, so do they cause cancer? No, according to the NCI fact sheet on electromagnetic fields and cancer. “The electric energy emitted by power lines is easily shielded or weakened by walls and other objects. The magnetic energy emitted by power lines is a low-frequency form of radiation that does not damage genes.