Too much, too bad—beware of the mutagens all over the place!

 

Life is full of choices, both good and bad. Although freedom of will is arguably one of the greatest gifts bestowed upon humankind, it is important to consider the consequences of certain choices, especially when it comes to our health and vitality. While we may enjoy the spur of the moment or indulge in fun activities, it is essential to consider the potential health hazards that we may come to regret. One of these hazards is exposure to mutagens, which are agents such as radiation or chemical substances that cause genetic mutations. Many might think that mutagens are a thing of comic book superheroes, but unfortunately, the reality is not as glamorous—or as rare.

 

Here are some everyday mutagens in the Filipino lifestyle that we should keep in mind and consume in moderation:

 

1. Inasal and Grilled Meat 

Inasal and grilled meat are tasty, juicy, and a staple in every Filipino celebration and party. However, burnt parts of the meat that are ridden with "smokey" charcoal can cause heartburn and release harmful compounds such as heterocyclic aromatic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These compounds, in high concentrations, are carcinogens and are linked to reduced lung function, asthma, obstructive lung diseases, and even an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. So, the next time you are eyeing that extra crispy, burnt bit of meat, think twice

 

2. Alcohol

Another party staple, alcohol can be enjoyable and is typically a social activity that helps friends unwind from the stresses of life. However, there is a tradeoff for that happiness. Ethanol, the main component of alcoholic beverages, is broken down by our bodies into acetaldehyde, which is toxic. In fact, acetaldehyde is linked to several genetic disorders and mutations like induced chromosome aberrations and genetic translocations and swapping of genes, which can cause imbalanced genetic defects.

 

3. The Sun 

The glorious sweltering sun reigning over the Philippine summers can be enjoyable in tropical beachscapes and island retreats. However, overexposure to the sun's rays can cause severe damage to our physical bodies and our genes. Inescapable and furiously emitting ultraviolet irradiation, overexposure to the sun's rays can cause a variety of damage to the body, such as premature aging and sunburns at best, and mutagenic diseases to one's DNA like triplet mutations or even carcinogenesis that has led to an emergence of skin cancer, at worst. Suffice to say, never forget to apply sunscreen the next time you frolic under the sun.

 

4. Tobacco

Overstated but always worth repeating, tobacco found in cigarettes is one of the leading mutagens that cause lung cancer. The smoke produced by tobacco contains mutagenic urine that acts as a strong mutagenic entity to human somatic or body cells. From a myriad of deadly effects like DNA instability and large spans of DNA insertions and deletions, tobacco is known to add about 1,000 to 10,000 mutations per cell from tobacco-specific smoke containing nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In the Philippines, 117,000 Filipinos are estimated to die annually from cigarette smoking. Nonetheless, smoking remains one of the most common pastimes while also ironically being one of the deadliest killers.

 

5. Processed Food

Processed food is easy to prepare and is one of the most economically available food options for a third-world country like the Philippines. However, a majority of commercially available processed food contains a high level of nitrosamines—a strong carcinogen linked to metastatic tumors that can manifest in a range of organs and tissues like the lung, brain, liver, and kidney. Furthermore, cooking at high temperatures only increases the risk of releasing the deadly compound.

 

These are just a few examples of everyday factors to be cautious about. Realistically, it is impossible to avoid all mutagens in our entire lifetime, especially given how ubiquitously they are present in our diet, lifestyle, or even our environment. Nonetheless, mitigation can be done, and we can take extra steps to protect ourselves anywhere, at any time. For the environment, protection and avoidance are key. For food and indulgence, moderation is the way to go.

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