Flinging open a window daily can help (Image: AndreyPopov via Getty Images)
A GP has revealed how people can lower their cancer risk at home by minimising everyday contact with substances associated with long-term health concerns. Dr Asiya Maula explained that, while no household can be entirely risk-free, decreasing daily exposure to harmful substances may help reduce accumulated danger over time.
She emphasised it wasn’t about creating fear or alarm, but rather raising awareness – particularly as individuals now spend more time indoors than previously. Dr Asiya Maula, a GP at The Health Suite in Leicester, noted much of the risk stems from items people consider harmless.
« Cancer risk isn’t about one single thing, » she said. « It’s about what the body is dealing with every day, for years or even decades. »
She’s removed one thing from her kitchen (Image: Pexels)
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How people can lower their long-term cancer risk at home
Reconsider plastic in the kitchen
Plastic food storage containers, bottles and cling film can release harmful substances, particularly when heated or degraded.
« Some plastics contain chemicals that can interfere with hormone signalling, » Dr Maula said, noting that hormones are crucial in how cells grow and divide, so persistent disruption over time may elevate cancer risk. She recommends switching to glass or stainless steel and avoiding microwaving food in plastic.
Enhance indoor air quality
Indoor air can frequently be more contaminated than outdoor air owing to cooking fumes, candles, aerosols and inadequate ventilation. « Long-term exposure to indoor air pollutants may contribute to inflammation in the body, » Dr Maula said, adding that opening windows daily and using extractor fans can make a real difference.
Be cautious with cleaning products
Numerous household cleaners contain aggressive chemicals formulated to eliminate bacteria and dissolve grease.
« These products exist to destroy biological material, » she said. « Repeated exposure in enclosed spaces may irritate the body over time, » recommending gentler, fragrance-free alternatives where possible.
Reduce pesticide use at home
Pesticides aren’t confined to agricultural settings – they’re also present in homes and gardens, frequently in sprays and treatments.
« They’re designed to kill living organisms, » Dr Maula said. « The concern is what low-level exposure might be doing to human cells, particularly for children, » adding that washing fruit and vegetables thoroughly and limiting chemical pest control indoors can help.
Cut back on ultra-processed food
What individuals store and prepare at home is significant too, with ultra-processed foods associated with obesity, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation – all recognised cancer risk factors. Dr Maula emphasised the goal isn’t perfection.
« It’s about reducing the overall toxic load, » she said. « Small changes, done consistently, can add up over time – and making your home a lower-exposure environment is one practical way to protect long-term health. »
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