According to a new report from the President’s Cancer Panel, environmental toxins play a significant and under-recognized role in cancer, causing “grievous harm” to untold numbers of people. In fact, it has been found that babies are born “pre-polluted” with nearly 300 industrial chemicals, pesticides and contaminants.

Four of every 10 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes, and two of every 10 will die from it. Beyond talking to your doctor about lifestyle changes that are known to make a difference, such as stopping smoking, reducing drinking, losing weight, exercising, and eating right, you should also do the following.

  • Filter your tap water. Common carcinogens in tap water include arsenic, chromium, and chemical byproducts that form when water is disinfected. A simple carbon tap-mounted filter or pitcher can help reduce the levels of some of these contaminants. If your water is polluted with arsenic or chromium, a reverse osmosis filter will help.
  • Seal outdoor wooden decks and play sets. Those built before 2005 are likely coated with an arsenic pesticide that can stick to hands and clothing.
  • Stop using stain proofing chemicals. “Fluorochemicals” related to Teflon and Scotchgard are used in stain repellants for carpets, furniture, drapery, and other house hold and office items. They are also used for grease proofing food packaging.
  • Stay safe in the sun. More than one million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. To protect your skin from the sun’s cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) radiation, seek shade, wear protective clothing and use a safe and effective sunscreen.
  • Cut down on fatty meat and high-fat dairy products. Long-lasting cancer-causing pollutants like dioxins and PCBs accumulate in the food chain and concentrate in animal fat.
  • Cut your exposures to BPA. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen found in some hard plastic water bottles, canned infant formula, and canned foods.
  • Avoid carcinogens in cosmetics. When buying cosmetics, stay away from products that have ingredients with “PEG” or “-eth” in their name.