According to the American Cancer Society, carcinogens are substances to which we are exposed that potentially could cause cancer – and they're everywhere. They can be habits like smoking or natural factors like ultraviolet light or radon gas. It can even come from pollution and items that we have in our homes. 

But not everyone who comes into contact with carcinogens will develop cancer. And all of these factors vary in their ability to cause cancer. Some carcinogens don’t cause cancer until after prolonged, excessive exposure. Plus, the risk of getting cancer may depend on genetic makeup. 

Trying to wade through this concept is like comparing apples to oranges. According to The Guardian, some factors are obvious. For example, a decade of extended sun exposure may result in skin cancer. And smoking cigarettes for many years increases your risk. However, you just don’t know. Many, many people engage in these behaviors and do not get cancer. 

The important thing to remember is that there are steps that you can take to reduce your level of exposure to carcinogens. And there are some types of carcinogens that you can avoid completely, like firsthand smoke exposure through cigarettes.

If you’re looking to decrease your exposure to carcinogens, check out these six changes to make today. 

1. Take steps to protect your skin from sun exposure. 

If you were raised in the '70s or '80, summer meant baking in the sun covered in tan-promoting baby oil or other concoctions. That’s because the risk of skin cancer wasn’t considered to the extent that it is now.

But these days we know that sun exposure is a factor when it comes to the risk of developing cancer. According to Women’s Health, UV radiation can alter skin cells' DNA. And obviously, it can speed up the aging process by contributing to the development of lines, wrinkles and sunspots. 

One of the first steps you can take to reduce your risk of cancer is to watch your exposure to direct sunlight. In addition, you’ve got to wear sunscreen. 

"There's a meter in your skin. Every minute you're out in the sun, your body registers it," Neal Schultz, M.D., a cosmetic dermatologist based in New York City and creator of DermTV.com, tells Women’s Health. "Whenever you start protecting yourself from the sun, you will stop the process of additional damage and start to reverse, to some extent, what you've already accumulated.” 

The thing is that many people assume that they only need to wear sunscreen during warmer months. But that’s not true. 

You should wear sunscreen daily. Women’s Health notes that the FDA recommends wearing broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF value of 15 or more. Apply 30 minutes before exposure and every two hours thereafter, and make sure to lather up. Don’t sell yourself short by applying too little sunscreen. 

2. Don’t dry clean your clothes.

Dry cleaning clothes risks chemical exposure that can harm us. This is why you should avoid dry cleaning clothes -- or do so as little as possible.

According to Prevention, a solvent called perchloroethylene, or perc, is used in the dry cleaning process. Studies show that this substance may cause liver and kidney cancer as well as leukemia. 

The primary danger comes to those who work in the dry cleaning industry because they come into contact with chemicals on a daily basis. However, as warnings often do, this could change in the future. 

3. Know the ins and outs of meats and carcinogens. 

According to The Guardian, processed and cured meats are considered to be Group 1 carcinogens. These are carcinogens that the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization, classifies as carcinogenic to humans.  Further, how meat is prepared can expose us to carcinogens. 

The Guardian says that the chemicals of concern are called heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Cooking meat at high temperatures is a contributing factor, meaning that perfectly planned cookout may not be as healthy as you thought. 

The good news is that you make changes to lower your risk. "The recommendation to cut down on grilled meat has really solid scientific evidence behind it," Cheryl Lyn Walker, Ph.D., professor of carcinogenesis at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, tells Prevention. However, adding rosemary and thyme to marinades can decrease the risk. In fact, researchers at Kansas State University found that these spices may reduce HCAs by up to 87 percent. 


4. Quit smoking. 

We all know that smoking causes cancer, but we often don’t really know why. 

According to the American Cancer Society, cigarette smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, of which more than 70 are carcinogens. While smoking may look fun and glamorous, the risks associated with it can be fatal.

So start to cut down on smoking and make a goal of quitting. If you don’t want to quit cold turkey, cut down by one or two cigarettes a week. The important thing is to take steps to make it to the end goal of giving up the habit. And remember that e-cigarettes are said to be just as bad for your health as the real deal. 

5. Limit alcohol consumption.

Did you know that alcohol can increase your risk of developing cancer? 

Bummer, we know.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), studies link alcohol to the risk of developing cancer. That’s because alcohol is a human carcinogen. And the more you drink, the higher your risk. 

In fact, data shows that more than three percent of deaths from cancer are related to alcohol consumption. In general, alcohol can increase the risk of head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and other types of cancer. However, alcohol consumption may decrease the risk of renal cell cancer and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. 

But why is that favorite cocktail a cancer-causing agent?

It is thought that alcohol has cancer-causing effects because of the way the body metabolizes ethanol. It also generates reactive oxygen species. These molecules may harm DNA, proteins and fats. Further, it affects the way the body absorbs nutrients and increases estrogen levels. 


6. Filter your water supply.

Another way to limit your exposure to carcinogens is to filter drinking water. According to Prevention, this process can decrease exposure to both carcinogens and chemicals that alter hormone levels. 

According to Prevention, a report from the President’s Cancer Panel regarding how to reduce carcinogen exposure says that taking steps to filter tap water is even better than drinking bottled water. It's also said to be beneficial to use stainless steel or glass as a method of storing water as opposed to plastic bottles, which can harbor BPA, another carcinogen.