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

Most people associate cancer risk with smoking or outdoor pollution. A 2025 review in BMJ Oncology adds another location to that list: the inside of your home. The study, which covers 24 years of research, found that benzene and formaldehyde from everyday items like cleaning sprays, paints, and new furniture are linked to lung cancer risk even in non-smokers. Long-term VOC exposure was also associated with an 8% higher breast cancer risk, and benzene from household sources was tied to leukemia risk in children. If you've never thought much about what's in your indoor air, this research makes a case for starting.