Products release volatile compounds
Dear Dr. Roach: I heard that air fresheners and fabric softener sheets may cause lung cancer. Is this true?
P.G.
Answer: What is true is that these products release volatile organic compounds, according to a 2011 study. VOCs encompass a large group of chemicals, some of which will increase the risk of cancer if ingested at high-enough dosages for a long-enough period of time.
The study found products listed as “organic,” “green,” “natural” or “nontoxic” that had similar amounts of potentially toxic or hazardous chemicals.
The type of study precluded any assessment of the magnitude of risk from exposure to these chemicals. However, the Environmental Protection Agency has estimated less than a 1 in 100,000 chance of developing cancer from continuous exposure to acetaldehyde. The effect of multiple volatile organic compounds acting together hasn’t been studied.
My best guess from the studies I have read is that the risk of developing cancer from these products is very, very low.
Dear Dr. Roach:
Iam writing on behalf of my 91-year-old father, who has been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. He has seen a specialist, who is ready to proceed with surgery. My father’s symptoms include numbness (lack of feeling) in the fingers. Is there any treatment that you could recommend that would deal directly with the numbness? He wonders if nerve compression could be coming from his neck and shoulder, and if chiropractic care, massage or range of motion physical therapy may be the answer.
T.S.
Answer: Surgery is the definitive therapy for carpal tunnel syndrome, but surgery is not always necessary. Lifestyle changes, such as wearing a wrist brace, and medications can sometimes keep a person from needing surgery.
Before surgery, the surgeon should be completely certain the nerve compression is happening in the wrist, not the shoulder or neck. Your father will need an EMG study. If surgery is necessary, I highly recommend contacting a hand surgeon, who has special expertise in this surgery.