Cancer accounts for over 60% of critical illness claims by women. The largest number of insurance claims in South Africa are for cancer – with more “millennial” claimants than ever before
Cancer causing contaminants we drink daily
Chlorine
According to a report from the U.S. Council of Environmental Quality, the cancer risk for people who drink chlorinated water is up to 93% higher than for those whose water does not contain chlorine Aug 10, 2017
Chromium-6
The toxic form, hexavalent chromium, is very soluble and moves easily within the environment. Industrial uses of hexavalent chromium include electroplating, steel manufacturing, leather tanning, and wood treatment. Drinking water that contains hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium 6, is considered a human health threat, increasing the risk for stomach and intestinal cancer.
Fluoride
The most controversial chemical in water.
Today fluoride is still added to public drinking water supplies despite it being classified 2 years ago, along with mercury and lead, as a neurotoxin “that injures the developing brain” by The Lancet – one of the world’s oldest and best peer-reviewed medical journals. In addition to the negative impact on developing brains and increasing the risk for hypothyroidism, fluoride has also been linked to various cancers.
Arsenic
A semi-metal element, arsenic is odourless and
tasteless. It can get into drinking water from natural ground deposits or as
runoff from agricultural and industrial practices, including mining and coal burning.
Consuming high levels of arsenic can cause acute poisoning and death. However, exposure to lower levels can cause decreased production of red and white blood cells, damage to blood vessels and a sensation of “pins and needles” in hands and feet. Long term consumption of arsenic may increase the risk of skin cancer, cancer in the liver, bladder and lungs.
Heavy metals
Heavy metals such as nickel, molybdenum, zinc, cadmium and lead are mined and processed by the mining and ore-smelting industries, many of which occur in Gauteng. These metals are easily washed into streams and groundwater. Copper and mercury are another two heavy metals, which are found in fungicides. Fungicides are also sprayed on crops and easily washed into rivers.
Almost all heavy metals are serious carcinogens. Waste from industrial processes is also a major source of environmental contamination and accumulates in water. Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, and nickel are classified as group 1 carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Insecticides
A group of controversial insecticides found in our water are the Organo-phosphates. These insecticides have been used in the place of DDT since it was banned. Some specialists believe that these insecticides have caused even greater environmental damage and that they are even more toxic to humans and other mammals than DDT
Atrazine is one of the most common water contaminants.
Independent research4 shows atrazine causes hermaphroditism in frogs (turning males into egg-laying females) by inducing an enzyme called aromatase, which causes overproduction of estrogen. For this reason, atrazine is also suspected of contributing to breast cancer. Research has also shown atrazine:
- Blocks testosterone production
- Is a potent endocrine disruptor
- Chemically castrates wildlife and causes sexual reproductive problems in a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, fish and amphibians
- Induces miscarriage in laboratory rodents
- Reduces immune function in animals
Studies looking at human cells and tissues suggest the chemical likely poses similar threats to human health. For example, one study linked atrazine exposure in utero to impaired sexual development in young boys, causing genital deformations, including micro phallus (micro penis).
The evidence also suggests atrazine exposure may contribute to a number of different cancers, specifically breast cancer, ovarian cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, hairy-cell leukaemia and thyroid cancer.