The risk of cancer may double if two carcinogens are present in a human cell - even if both are within a safe level, according to a study from Texas Tech University.
It has previously been proven that carcinogens like arsenic can be safe in the human body when introduced in very small levels. This latest study has found, however, that when a safe level of arsenic comes into contact with estrogen, also in a safe level, the risk of cancer doubles.
Lead researcher Kamaleshwar Singh explained the discovery speaking with Science Daily saying:
"The majority of cancers are caused by environmental influences. Only about 5 to 10 percent of cancers are due to genetic predisposition. Science has looked at these chemicals, such as arsenic, and tested them in a lab to find the amounts that may cause cancer. But that's just a single chemical in a single test. In the real world, we are getting exposed to many chemicals at once," she explained.
"Co-exposure was creating a greater impact," Singh said. "That was one of the important findings of our study. The next thing we wanted to know is how these two chemicals are creating a greater effect."
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