6 common household items you didn't know could give you cancer

But, there are some items in your house that could be dangerous to your health.

Even more than you could ever realise because some of them can actually cause cancer.

Here are 6 of them.

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1. The couch

Your sofa could be killing you. This is because cushioned furniture are treated with a flame retardant that is actually a carcinogenic. Check the label on your store bought furniture and make sure they don't contain TDCIPP.

2. Leather furniture

Chromium VI is a known cancer causing agent found in tanned leather, wood furniture, dyes and pigments, and cement.

3. Your fridge

Carcinogenic PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) can be found in old appliances such as fridges. They are odourless chlorinated compounds that can be oily and range in colour from colourless to light yellow. They can also be found in fish and dump sites. Swallowing large amounts can lead to coma or death. Exposure of pregnant women to PCBs can lead to miscarriage.

ALSO READ: Why food colour is dangerous to your health.

Short-term exposure to PCBs can irritate and burn the eyes, lungs, nose, and throat. It can cause coughing, difficulty breathing, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, depression, fatigue, sweating at the palms, jaundice, headache, dizziness, nervousness, muscle and joint pain, discoloration of fingernails, arthritis, and stomach pain. In women, short-term exposure can cause irregular menstrual cycles. Skin contact with PCBs may cause an acne-like skin rash, which can last for years.

4. Cleaning agents

Your cleaning products could contain formaldehyde. It is also found in food, cosmetics and paint. Always make sure to check the labels of the products that you purchase. If you've already used them, ensure that you properly ventilate your house.

5. Your clothes

If you dry clean your outfits, the chemical used to clean- perchloroethylene- can build up wherever you store your dry-cleaned clothes. It is a cancer causing agent.

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