We have always been told that smoking, sun exposure, diet and exercise are all big factors in the risk for getting Cancer, but according to a presidential panel, household and workplace chemicals may contribute to a larger percentage of cancer deaths than previously thought.

The President's Cancer Panel, an advisory group monitoring the war on cancer, thinks that environmental chemicals might contribute to a larger share of deaths from cancer than the 1% to 5% figure cited by the National Cancer Institute, a statistic taken from studies done in the 1980's. Since then no one has tried to revise the estimate because of the difficulty of the job.

Cancer usually results from more than one cause such as genetic predisposition, immune status, lifestyle factors, other disease conditions and environmental exposures. People must be followed long enough in studies for cancers to develop, which can often take decades. Histories of cancer patients must reliably report the presence or absence of a risk factor decades earlier which can often be sketchy and unreliable. In the case of environmental chemicals, it's nearly impossible to determine the extent of exposure someone had — how much chemical and for how long.

"The Presidential Panel urges you most strongly to use the power of your office to remove the carcinogens and other toxins from our food, water, and air that needlessly increase health care costs, cripple our nation's productivity, and devastate American lives." There are a few simple things you can do if you want to cut down on these risks, real or potential.

• Test your home for radon and, if high levels of the gas are present, seal cracks and increase ventilation.
• Ask for your doctor's help in limiting your exposure to X-rays by avoiding unnecessary tests.
• To cut down on exposure to endocrine disruptors, you can filter tap water, avoid using BPA-containing plastics, use glass or ceramic containers to microwave food and use regular soap instead of antibacterial soap to wash your hands.
• Air new carpets and drapes to avoid formaldehyde and wear protective gloves and clothing when using pesticides.