Denver, CO

About 40 percent of all cancers are linked to food, lack of exercise, and body weight, said the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research in the most current and most comprehensive study of cancer to date. This study showed a strong correlation between excess body fat and red meat to increaded risk of common cancers. The conclusion to be drawn from this is, of course, that excess body fat and red meat should be avoided. Taking the results of this study public, the hope of releasing this information and recommendations to exericse more and eat less is that about one third of cancers could be prevented, if appropriate actions were adopted worldwide. This, in my opinion, is a great idea and a good start. But what about the other two thirds of cancer that is not so easily preventable and the other 60 percent of cancer that aren’t linked to food, lack of exercise, or body weight?
There are many factors that can lead to cancer, or any illness for that matter. Among these are: age, genetics and genetic mutation, immune system, day-to-day environment, viruses, etc. The day-to-day environment includes exposure to the sun, second hand smoke or smoking, other forms of radiation, asbestos, work place hazards, etc.
The issue, then, of preventing cancer cannot be focused just on diet and exercise, but how can we reduce the influence on causing cancer from all of these factors?
Deep Rock Water Co. has an answer, or at least an idea. And if nothing else, they have shown themselves to be concerned with their consumer. The Denver company has stopped using it’s familiar 5 gallon bottle for water coolers, because of research indicating that a chemical, bispenol A, in the plastic, polycarbonate, contributes to and triggers early-stage cancer and decreased fertility in lab rats. While there is no direct evidence that the same would be true in humans, the water company decided to make the switch to a safer material, polyethylene terephtalate. Now, you don’t have to understand the technical terms of the plastics and their compounds, I hardly do myself, but what I hope you take away is that many products in use today among ourselves, at home, at work, being played with by children, may not be as safe as we would trust and hope. Some company’s, like the Denver water company Deep Rock, are trying to change this and err on the side of caution to protect their customers. Others, like the International Bottled Water Association, provide only the typical big business response stating they were “not aware of any movement out of polycarbonate” jugs in the industry.
If you ask me, if it’s something that we’re going to drink out of, its better to be safe than sorry.

image from http://medicineworld.org/cancer/lung/lung-cancer-blog.html