why do seemingly random things “give you cancer”?

Question

Every time I see someone touch oil or breathe in fumes or dust( or other dirty things), I always see “hes gonna get cancer” in comments. I always kind of just accepted it as truth, but do they actually give you cancer? like how can breathing in some dust make your cells divide weirdly and give you cancer?

In: 93

Answer 1

They damage your dna. Anything that can generate free radicals can damage your dna. Your body repairs most of it, but once in a while a deadly mutation sneaks through. Radiation, petrochemicals like benzene, irritants like asbestos,all do the job. And oddly, obesity.