But, the products that help us in our everyday lives could also be killing us, according to a panel of health specialists speaking last night at Peel Public Health's annual Cancer Forum.
More than 200 people, several of whom are battling the often deadly disease, packed the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple in Meadowvale to hear speakers discuss this year's topic: "Exploring Environmental Links to Cancer."
"There is a significant concern about increased incidents of cancer and concern about whether or not there are any potential links between environmental contaminants and cancer," said Paul Callanan, the Region of Peel's director of environmental health, who spoke at last night's gathering.
Callanan said exposure to fossil fuels, as well as pesticides and chlorine compounds like bleach, have all been linked to cancer.
"It's important to reduce fossil fuels for many reasons, not the least of which is that we're running out of fossil fuels," he said. "If we can reduce use of fossil fuels, we reduce emissions, we reduce exposure, therefore we reduce the incidents of cancer. There are many emissions from fossil fuels, diesel exhaust for example, that's a known carcinogen."
If we could "somehow get away from our dependance" on cars and trucks, which use fossil fuels, that would be great, Callanan said.
Fossil fuels are also used to produce much of the electricity used in Ontario, the health specialists said.
"There are more greener, sustainable alternatives," Callanan said.
Dr. Alan Abelsohn, a family physician and an environmental health professor at the University of Toronto, along with former Ontario Minister of Health and the Environment, Ruth Grier, also spoke at the forum.
They agreed that there were less toxic ways to create healthy lawns and gardens than by using pesticides.
They include: cutting your grass to a height of 2.5 to 3 inches to develop a deep and extensive root system that grows thicker grass and retains soil moisture; fertilizing regularly; overseeding in the early fall so that your lawn remains dense and weeds are unable to invade; and, aerating your lawn in the early fall to facilitate a better flow of water, air and nutrients to the grassroots.
Ontario's Liberal government introduced legislation this week that would ban the cosmetic use of pesticides and herbicides on lawns, gardens, parks and schoolyards. Agriculture, forestry and golf courses would be exempt.
If enacted, the Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act likely will take effect next spring.
Baking powder and vinegar are effective disinfectants that could replace the use of bleach in the home, Callanan said.
"If people were aware of the less-intrusive, more environmentally-friendly ways of getting the same result, then that couldn't help but be a good thing.
Many of the speakers also said that people can reduce the risk of cancer by making healthy lifestyle choices.
We all should be non-smokers and avoid second-hand smoke, eat healthy foods, be active on a regular basis, be sensible in the sun and eat less fats and more fruits and vegetables.
lrosella@mississauga.net
