Health Farm

-- Acetaminophen – otherwise known as paracetamol – could soon be added to the list of cancer-causing chemicals

Now here’s a headache for your headache remedy.

Officials in California are discussing whether to add acetaminophen, otherwise known as paracetamol, to a list of chemicals “known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity,” as defined by Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986.

The move follows research published in the journal Cancer Causes and Control, which indicates that some case-control studies have shown an increased incidence of renal cell carcinoma, lymphoma, leukaemia, and plasma cell disorders among users of acetaminophen.

Other studies also hint at a possible increased risk of liver cancer, never mind a trio of bad skin reactions.

However, before purging your medical cabinet, consider that the research is based on indirect evidence, simply identifying a correlation rather than inarguable causation. So, the question is: what other habits might have contributed to acetaminophen users’ cancer profile?

Still, go easy on the pills, or try a natural remedy.