How Indoor Air Pollution in Your Home Raises Cancer Risk: Key Findings from BMJ Oncology 2025

A 2025 BMJ Oncology study by Roselle De Guzman and Joan Schiller digs into over two decades of research, from 2000 to 2024. It looks at how indoor air pollution affects U.S. homeowners. The findings point to a clear problem: the air inside your home can carry cancer risks.

Common household items are main culprits. Cleaning sprays, paints, new furniture, and air fresheners release volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These include benzene and formaldehyde, chemicals known to cause cancer. In homes with poor ventilation, these pollutants build up fast.

Wood-burning fireplaces and kerosene heaters contribute too. The study ties their smoke and particles to higher risks of lung, breast, and gut cancers.

Lung cancer stands out in the data. The study finds benzene and formaldehyde in indoor air increase your risk, even if you’ve never smoked. VOCs are a big deal. They are linked to over half of air pollution-related cancer cases in the U.S., according to the research.

Breast cancer shows up too. Long-term exposure to VOCs raises the risk by 8%. The study suggests these chemicals might disrupt hormones or damage breast tissue over time. It’s a connection seen across years of data.

Gut cancers are another worry. Inhaled particles from indoor air might settle in your stomach or intestines. The research links this to possible increases in colon or esophageal cancer risks, especially where pollutants like kerosene fumes are present.

Brain tumors appear in the findings as well. The study notes early evidence that VOCs could trigger inflammation reaching the brain. It’s not as solid as lung cancer data yet, but it’s a red flag worth watching.

For kids, the stakes are high. Benzene in household air is tied to leukemia risks. The study highlights how this chemical, seeping from cleaners or furniture, could affect children’s blood health where they live and play.

The research spans all kinds of homes. Urban, suburban, and rural. Cancer already affects millions of Americans, and this adds another layer.

The BMJ Oncology study doesn’t stop at pointing out risks. It shows how widespread they are. From lung to breast to gut, brain, and kids’ leukemia, indoor air pollution touches multiple cancers. The facts are there, backed by years of data.

Want to know what’s in your air? Check it with EezyAir. With cancer a real concern for so many families, this study suggests it’s worth finding out what’s floating around your home and taking steps to keep your loved ones safe.