Chemical Exposures
Exposure to chemicals in the environment, household items, or through your job can increase your chance of developing illnesses like kidney cancer. These illnesses may appear years, or even decades later, even if you move to a new location, stop using these items, or get a different job.
Kidney Cancer Risk Factors
Some exposures known to increase your risk of kidney cancer include:
- Asbestos
- Benzene
- Cadmium
- Herbicides and pesticides
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
- Radiation
- Trichloroethylene (TCE)
- Vinyl chloride
These are just some chemicals to be aware of. Many different types of chemicals can increase your risk for kidney cancer, but the people most affected are those who work with them in their job. Some groups of workers who may work with chemicals known to raise the risk of kidney cancer are:
- Chemical cleaners
- Chemical manufacturers
- Commercial printers
- Construction workers
- Electronics manufacturers
- Farmers and agricultural workers
- Firefighters
- Forestry workers
- Heavy metals manufacturers
- Landscapers
- Military personnel
- Painters
- Radiation workers
- Road/pavement workers
- Rubber manufacturers
In addition to chemical exposures, other risk factors that increase your chances of being diagnosed with kidney cancer include:
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Family history of kidney cancer
- Certain genetic conditions
These groups are also more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer regardless of chemical and environmental exposures:
- Men
- African Americans
- American Indians and Alaska Natives
- Hispanic Americans
Understanding Chemical and Environmental Exposures
To help you understand how you might be exposed, here are some details about the more common chemicals that may increase your risk of kidney cancer.
Asbestos
Asbestos was a commonly used building material. It’s rarely used today, but still exists in older structures including some homes, schools, and workplaces. Jobs in mining, milling, shipyards, construction, carpentry, or demolition may have exposed you to asbestos. This includes working directly with products like flooring, roofing, cement sheet, pipes, insulation, clutch facings, and brake lining. Exposure to asbestos may increase your risk of kidney cancer by 20%.
Cadmium
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal that can be found in food, batteries, cigarette smoke, and in workplace settings that use this material. If you live near industrial facilities, it can also be found in dangerous levels in the air or water. People with high exposure to cadmium are more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Herbicides and Pesticides
These chemicals are typically used in farming and agriculture to help protect crops, but may also be used to help maintain gardens or other natural décor at home. While they are intended to kill plants and pests, they can harm people through skin contact, inhalation (breathing in), or water contamination. People with prolonged exposure to these chemicals can be 60-80% more likely to be diagnosed with kidney cancer.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
PFAS are widely used chemicals found in many different products, from electronics to food wrappers, and furniture to tap water. This widespread use has also led to PFAS contaminating public water sources. They are so common that researchers have found PFAS in the blood of 98% of people in the US. They also found that people with high amounts of PFAS in their blood were about twice as likely to get kidney cancer compared to people with low amounts in their blood.
Signs and Symptoms
No matter what increases your risk, most people diagnosed with kidney cancer have similar symptoms. These include:
- Blood in your urine
- Unexplained pain in your lower back or side
- A mass or lump in your lower back or side
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Ongoing fevers without an infection
Each of these symptoms on their own does not mean you have kidney cancer. They may be a sign of other health issues. If you have any of these symptoms, talk to your healthcare team to see if you need further testing or treatments.
Take Action
Limit Exposures
Workplace
It is especially important to follow safety precautions at your workplace if your job involves any of the work or exposures discussed on this page. Safety precautions help protect both you and your family. In addition to any resources your employer may provide, you can also find resources from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) that talk about safety precautions for specific chemicals or for specific industries.
Home
In the home, building materials, water, and household products are possible sources of chemical exposure.
If you think your home has asbestos, leave it alone and stay away. If the building materials are in good condition, they are unlikely to be a health risk. If they are damaged, or if you plan to remodel your home, you may want to hire an asbestos professional. Learn more at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website.
To reduce exposure to PFAS and other dangerous chemicals through water, it is important to make sure your water is safe. The EPA has resources here that can help you find out if your water is safe and if you may benefit from installing a water filter.
Products
Many household products can contain chemicals that increase your risk of kidney cancer. You can reduce your risk of exposure when you stop using products that contain these chemicals or switch to brands that do not use them. You can find resources to help you determine what products may contain these chemicals at the bottom of this page.
One particularly harmful product is cigarettes. These contain cadmium, vinyl chloride, and many other chemicals that greatly increase your risk for cancer. People around you can also be at higher risk of cancer because of secondhand smoke. Related products, including e-cigarettes and vapes, are currently the focus of much research. These products may have serious risks for your health, so their use is not recommended. You can learn more about the health risks of these products from the American Cancer Society.
Engage With Your Health
If you believe you may have been highly exposed to any of these chemicals, you should talk to your doctor. They can review your health and determine if you may benefit from additional testing.
In addition to limiting exposures, there are more actions to take that can help prevent you from getting kidney cancer. These include:
- If you smoke, quit. The CDC has resources to help.
- If you have high blood pressure or chronic kidney disease, make sure to follow your doctor’s recommendations on how to manage it.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating well, engaging in physical activities you enjoy, and reducing stress.
You can also support your health by staying engaged with your health care team. This includes:
- Help your doctor understand your risk for kidney cancer, especially if you have any exposures discussed on this page.
- Continue, or start, to get regular physicals from your doctor.
- Watch out for signs and symptoms of kidney cancer, and tell your care team if you have any.
Resources
Helpful resources from the EPA and other government agencies include:
References:
Information on this page last reviewed: January, 2025
The Populations at Higher Risk content is made possible with the generous support of
Keep Learning:
The Kidney Cancer Association provides educational literature for anyone impacted by kidney cancer.