Before we get further into that, there's something to keep in mind: Common products in your home—and in households across the country—are unlikely to give you cancer on their own. But there are certain products with ingredients that are linked to cancer, and it's certainly helpful to be aware of them.
And there’s a popular household product that’s been used in homes for decades that could be silently raising your risk of cancer.
But if you have this product in your home and want to do what you can to lower your risk of cancer, it’s not a bad idea to toss it, according to oncology experts and a pulmonologist. Here’s why.
It’s mothballs. These small balls are pesticides that slowly give off a toxic gas to kill moths that may damage clothes, along with other insects, per Oregon State University’s National Pesticide Information Center.
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“These substances can build up in indoor air, especially with frequent use and poor ventilation, leading to repeated low‑level breathing exposure over time,” Dr. Daunert tells Parade.
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Why Are Mothballs Concerning?
"Mothballs should not be used in homes because they contain toxic pesticide chemicals like naphthalene or paradichlorobenzene that slowly release poisonous fumes into the air,"Dr. Sapna Deo, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, tells Parade. "Mothballs are solids but sublimate meaning turning into vapors, releasing chemicals. These are meant to kill moths in sealed containers and should not be kept in the open air where people and pets can easily inhale these fumes."
"Naphthalene is classified as a possible carcinogen, meaning long-term exposure may increase the risk of cancer," Dr. Deo says.
Paradichlorobenzene is classified as a group 2B carcinogen by the World Health Organization (WHO), which means that it’s possibly carcinogenic to humans (based on mouse studies). The chemical is currently under a “risk evaluation” by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
If mothballs are used in a well-ventilated area, Elsayegh says they “should not be an issue.” But he has a big caveat to keep in mind: “Mothballs are usually placed in closets and areas that are not well ventilated. With prolonged exposure, these substances raise the risk of cancer. “
Daunert also lists off deodorizer blocks, pressed‑wood furniture that releases formaldehyde, older non‑stick cookware linked to PFOA, scented candles or incense that can release benzene and soot and some weed killers containing glyphosate.
If you use some of these products here and there, Dr. Elsayegh says there’s no need to panic. “You must be exposed to the product for an extended period,” he says. But maybe don’t pick up mothballs to use in your home again in the future, just to be safe.
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Sources:
Ashraf Elsayegh, MD, pulmonologist and critical care medicine specialist, at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, CASylvia Daunert, PhD, biochemist and researcher with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer CenterEzekiel J. Emanuel, MD, PhD, oncologist, co-director of the Healthcare Transformation Institute at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and author ofEat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life.Sapna Deo, PhD, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology with the University of Miami Miller School of MedicineFink, H., et al. Global and Regional Cancer Burden Attributable to Modifiable Risk Factors to Inform Prevention. Nature Medicine. February 3, 2026Mothballs: Naphthalene and Paradichlorobenzene. National Pesticide Information CenterThe Facts About Mothballs. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.Some Chemicals that Cause Tumours of the Kidney or Urinary Bladder in Rodents and Some Other Substances. IARC MonographsRisk Evaluation for p-Dichlorobenzene. U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyHence then, the article about 3 oncology experts say they d never use this popular household product here s why was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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