There are over 14 million new cancers and over 8 million cancer deaths worldwide each year. Asbestos, diesel exhaust, various forms of radiation, night work, tobacco and alcohol are all known causes of cancer. Carcinogens certainly deserve attention. A person’s exposure to a wide range of carcinogens depends on a variety of factors: where they live, how long they live, their job, their living environment, and even their parents’ past exposure to carcinogens. Generally, the most vulnerable, the poorest and those with the worst jobs are at greatest risk from “environmental” carcinogens. The International Agency for Research on Cancer is the best scientific resource for information on carcinogens worldwide, and this article summarizes ten carcinogens you may not have heard of. Ten carcinogens you’ve never heard of: The following ten have been proven to be global human carcinogens in category 1. 1. Biological agents Biological agents include liver fluke from Thailand, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and various types of human papilloma virus, all of which are a major cause of cancer. It is estimated that infectious diseases cause more than 20% of cancer cases in developing countries and 6% of cancer cases in developed countries. In France, it is estimated that 15% of the workforce, or 2.6 million workers, are exposed to biological agents. 2. Trichloroethylene Trichloroethylene, an industrial solvent used in cosmetics and commercial degreasers, was once widely used as an anesthetic and may now also be found in contaminated groundwater around the world. Trichloroethylene can cause kidney cancer and has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and liver cancer. 3. Silica dust Silica dust, crystals, in the form of quartz or white silica, is widely used in construction casting, tunneling and stone cutting operations. It can cause lung cancer. The WHO and other organizations estimate that occupational lung carcinogens, such as silica, cause at least 10% of all lung cancer deaths worldwide. Globally, 30 percent of men and 20 percent of women have been exposed to this lung carcinogen during their working lives. 4. shale oil Shale oil, a type of fuel oil, can present a range of risks when processed after extraction. skin cancer was reported more than 100 years ago in workers who handled shale oil. Nowadays, extraction of shale oil may involve a series of exposure to natural and man-made carcinogens. 5, radon gas Naturally occurring radon gas can lead to lung cancer. It is estimated that radon energy in dwellings may cause 14% lung cancer, which is the second leading cause of high incidence of lung cancer. However, dangerous levels of radon gas may also exist in stores, offices and factories, so these locations should be effectively ventilated and the floors and walls sealed. 6, benzene Benzene is the solvent of chemical and pharmaceutical industries, and is also often found in gasoline, automobile exhaust, glue and adhesive products. Benzene can cause leukemia, and at least 2% of leukemia cases worldwide are the result of occupational exposure. Of course, there are also some natural sources of benzene, such as volcanic eruptions, forest fires, crude oil in nature, gasoline and cigarette smoke. Benzene may be produced during the processing of oil and gas, and it may contaminate water sources. 7.Aristolochic acid Aristolochic acid is found in the Aristolochiaceae family of plants and has long been used in herbal medicine and cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is also produced as a research chemical that may contaminate wheat fields during the harvest in China. Its can cause uroepithelial cancer. 8. Hexavalent chromium (VI) is found naturally in the environment, but when processed into compounds, it is used in textile dyes, paints, inks, plastics, as well as in leather manufacturing and metalworking. Hexavalent chromium can enter the air, water and soil and can cause lung cancer, nasal and sinus cancers. It is estimated that millions of workers worldwide are exposed to chromium compounds. 9. Beryllium Beryllium is naturally present in the environment and is used in alloys, nuclear reactors and microelectronic technology. In the past, it was used in fluorescent lamps and radio valves (people who repair old equipment may occasionally be exposed to low levels of beryllium), and also for dental restoration. Beryllium compounds have been linked to lung cancer. 10. Sulfuric acid mist Sulfuric acid mist is used in fertilizer manufacturing, food manufacturing, batteries, copper smelting, and acid cleaning. In Europe alone, 700,000 workers have been exposed to these mists causing throat cancer, and there is evidence that they may cause lung cancer. These carcinogens are linked to what we eat, drink, play and enjoy, so these carcinogens can really affect us all. Pressure should be put on government and industry to reduce the risk of exposing the public to as many human carcinogens as possible.