Five Household Products Doctors Skip to Help Cut Cancer Exposure

• Why it matters: Some everyday household products can expose people to chemicals associated with cancer, although the level of risk differs.
• What you can do: Reduce exposure by avoiding harsh disinfectants and choosing glass food containers, among other steps.
• The bottom line: Limiting repeated contact with potentially harmful chemicals may help lower long-term cancer risk.

People encounter many chemicals in daily life, and while some are harmless, others may raise legitimate health concerns. To help separate fact from noise, doctors shared the household items they personally avoid because of possible cancer-related risks.

1. Harsh Disinfectants and Scented Cleaners

Strong, fragranced cleaners may work well, but some of their ingredients can be harmful, said Jay Luthar, MD, founder and medical director at Lutanen Health and an instructor at Harvard Medical School.

Although products vary by brand, a recent review found that cleaning and disinfecting supplies can increase exposure to indoor pollutants, including compounds such as chloroform, which is a known carcinogen.

Luthar said he tries to avoid “disinfectant sprays, heavily fragranced cleaners, and products like plug-in air fresheners that continuously release chemicals into indoor air.”

For routine cleaning, he prefers simple fragrance-free products such as vinegar, baking soda, and soap, and saves disinfectants for situations where they are truly needed. “For odors, I prefer addressing the source, improving ventilation, or using appropriate filtration rather than masking the odor with fragrance,” he added.

2. Plastic Food Containers

For storing food, Luthar avoids plastic containers, especially when he plans to reheat food in them. Research has shown that certain chemicals used in plastics and food packaging, including phthalates and bisphenols, can migrate into food, and heat can increase that exposure.

Phthalates and bisphenols are classified as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, meaning they may interfere with the body’s hormone system and raise concerns about possible cancer risk.

“Recent International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifications identified three phthalates as possibly carcinogenic to humans, based largely on animal and mechanistic evidence,” Luthar said, though more research in people is still needed to understand the full cancer risk.

“For me, this is a precautionary choice because food storage and reheating are repeated exposures, and there is an easy alternative,” Luthar told HEALTH. “I prefer glass containers for storing and reheating food and stainless steel for storage when reheating isn’t necessary.”

3. Gas Stoves Without Proper Ventilation

Many Americans cook on gas stoves, but Daryl Eber, MD, co-founder, medical director, and lead radiologist at 3T Radiology & Research, would not use one without adequate ventilation.

“Gas-burning stoves on high or ovens at just 350 degrees Fahrenheit raise benzene levels indoors, a carcinogen linked to leukemia, and those levels go beyond what’s found in secondhand smoke,” he told HEALTH. “It can drift into other rooms and hang there for hours.”

To improve ventilation, he recommends keeping the exhaust hood on and opening a few windows when using a gas stove or oven. If buying a new stove, Eber suggested an induction cooktop, which uses an electromagnetic field to heat pans directly without the air pollution created by burning gas.

4. Composite Wood Furniture

Eber also avoids furniture and cabinetry made from composite wood, including particleboard, plywood, and medium-density fiberboard.

These materials contain adhesives that can release formaldehyde, a chemical gas linked to several cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia. Exposure may be higher in warm, humid climates and when products are newly purchased, Eber noted.

“Choose solid wood whenever possible, or look for products that specify that there’s no added formaldehyde,” he advised.

5. Stain- and Water-Resistant Products

Luthar also avoids stain- and water-resistant items such as furniture and rugs. These products may contain PFAS, long-lasting chemicals used to repel water, oil, and stains and often called “forever chemicals.”

Certain PFAS chemicals have been linked to cancer. The IARC has classified perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) as carcinogenic to humans and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) as possibly carcinogenic to humans.

“This classification identifies a cancer hazard, but it does not tell us the cancer risk associated with owning a particular treated couch or rug,” Luthar clarified.

Still, he prefers products without stain- or water-resistant treatments, often choosing natural fabrics such as cotton, wool, linen, or silk.