The liver detoxifies the body by breaking down chemicals in preparation for excretion, and aids in digestion by releasing bile fluids. The kidneys are responsible for filtering the blood, and play a role in regulating blood pressure in response to sugar and salt in the bloodstream. Prolonged exposure to chemicals can damage the kidneys and liver, and since these organs are continuously exposed to chemicals within the blood, there's an increased risk of genetic mutations that can cause cancer. A number of chemicals have been identified that can cause liver or kidney cancer.
Aflatoxins
Aflatoxins are natural chemicals found in certain forms of mold that can grow on rice, grains, nuts and seeds, legumes and spices like black pepper. Continued exposure to aflatoxin has been linked to liver cancer in some individuals. Aflatoxin has a chemical structure that is similar to DNA components, so when cells are exposed to aflatoxins, the chemicals can integrate themselves into the cells' DNA and lead to genetic mutations. Ingested aflatoxins are processed by the liver, so liver cells are particularly at risk for cancer from exposure to contaminated foods.
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences reports that aflatoxins can facilitate the development of liver cancer in individuals already predisposed to the disease, such as patients infected with hepatitis B. Infected individuals exposed to aflatoxin are 60 times more likely to develop liver cancer than patients that were not exposed.
Alcohol
Excessive and prolonged alcohol consumption has been linked to the development of liver cancer. Alcohol can cause liver cancer indirectly--it can cause a condition called cirrhosis, which often leads to the development of liver cancer. Alcohol is broken down in the liver, leading to the release of toxic byproducts which damage the liver over time, leading to the accumulation of scar tissue that disrupts normal liver function. The National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse states that as many as 36 percent of liver cancer cases are indirectly caused by alcohol overconsumption.
Tobacco Smoke
Tobacco smoke is highly carcinogenic, and can lead to the development of several forms of cancer, including kidney cancer. Tobacco smoke contains a number of chemicals, many of which are released into the bloodstream after smoking. Since the kidney functions to filter all the blood, cells within the kidney are exposed to the chemicals from smoke, which can eventually lead to kidney cancer. The National Cancer Institute reports that smokers are at twice the risk of developing kidney cancer compared to non-smokers.
