 cancer increase with five or more daily drinks.
The earlier that long-term, heavy alcohol use begins, the greater the cancer risk. Also, using alcohol with tobacco is riskier than using either one alone, because it further increases the chances of getting cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus.
People who drink and smoke may find it harder to stop either of these behaviors.
Drinking low levels of alcohol can have both negative and positive health effects: It raises the risk of getting breast cancer and lowers the risk of getting heart disease. Therefore, women who already are at low risk for heart disease could reduce their risk of breast cancer by avoiding regular alcohol use.
In general, increased exposure to the sun—especially without adequate use of sunscreen and protective clothing—increases the chances of getting skin cancer.
Some research suggests that people apply less than an adequate amount of sunscreen and fail to reapply it appropriately.
Since the mid-1980s, fewer high school students have taken part in physical education classes.
Removing barriers (such as lack of physical education classes) and setting up supports (such as bicycle and walking paths) can help to promote physically active lifestyles.
Also, being overweight increases the chances of health problems, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers.
In women, overweight and obesity, weight gain, and increased amounts of fat at the waist or around the body's mid-section double to triple the chances of getting endometrial cancer. These factors also double the chances of getting breast cancer after menopause.
Obesity and increased body fat raise the risk of getting colorectal cancer. Overweight and obesity are linked to an increased risk of some types of esophageal and kidney cancers.
Daily physical activity balanced with appropriate calorie intake is one of the most effective ways to avoid weight gain. Lack of activity is believed to be one of the major reasons for the increase in overweight among U.S. youth and adults.
Increased TV watching is linked with excess weight.
Radon is second only to tobacco as the leading cause of lung cancer. Radon found in homes may contribute to as many as 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. It is a more serious health threat to under-ground miners.
People who are exposed to both radon gas and tobacco smoke are more likely to get lung cancer than are people who are exposed to either one alone. Most radon-related deaths from lung cancer occur among smokers.
Researchers estimate that lowering indoor radon exposure would prevent about 30 percent of lung cancer deaths from radon. Of these, 86 percent would be among smokers or former smokers.
The general population's main exposure to benzene is inhaling air that contains it. About half of human exposures to benzene come from smoking and secondhand smoke. Other sources include vapors from heavy traffic and gas stations. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia.
The Environmental Protection Agency says that benzene concentrations in the air have declined because reformulated gasoline is being used in many parts of the United States. This is an example of how changes to the environment can help to lower cancer risk.
More measures of environmental chemical carcinogen exposures—such as those reported by the National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—need to be tracked over time.
These environmental measures were chosen because of the availability of reliable national data showing trends over time. Additional environmental measures will be available for future editions of this report.
For more information on nutritional factors, see our pages on nutrition and the Food Guide Pyramid.
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