Urinal Blocks and Cancer

Urinal blocks and cancer? This might seem like a strange title. What on earth could a urinal block, also known as urinal cakes, and cancer have in common? Well, in this article, we’ll explain the dangers of many cleaning products like urinal blocks, among other things.

Firstly, just so we’re all on the same page, when we talk about urinal blocks, what are we talking about? Logically, a large percentage of those living in modern countries have used a urinal; if you haven’t, the chances are you’ve seen one. In most urinals, you’ll find a small block, normally puck-shaped, that is there to help with the bad smell.

I won’t post a photo from an actual urinal, as it might be off-putting. But you know what I mean? Those Urinal deodoriser blocks you will see in most urinals. There are many names for these functional little blocks: urinal cakes, urinal cookies, urinal biscuits or ‘piscuits’, urinal doughnuts, toilet lollies, trough lollies, urinal mints, urinal pucks, hockey pucks, toilet pucks, or urinal peons (pronounced pee-ons). Funny how the human mind works; we always turn to humour when talking about the most basic human need.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand, how can this quotidian object be linked to cancer?

p-dichlorobenzene

Simply put, p-dichlorobenzene exposure is linked to cancer, and most urinal blocks are made with p-dichlorobenzene or 1,4-Dichlorobenzene. To make reading more accessible, we’ll refer to it as 1,4-DCB. In 2019, the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) designated this chemical as a high-priority chemical. And ever since, it has been evaluating the environmental and health risks.

Sadly, the research into 1,4-DCB is limited, but it can cause more health problems than cancer; it has been proven to attack the nervous system, respiratory system, liver and kidneys.

So, as it’s a product known to cause health issues, we probably barely ever come in contact with it, right? Wrong! 1,4-DSB is used for many things, but most commonly for insecticides, germicides and deodorisers.

The most worrying thing is that 1,4-DCB has been a known Carcinogenic since 1989, and we carry on using it. We have contact with it daily; it’s commonly used in mothballs, scented garbage bags and urinal blocks.

You might think we won't have much contact because our direct contact with bin bags, mothballs, and urinal blocks is limited. Thankfully, we don’t spend much of our time touching things like a urinal block, but just because we don’t physically touch them doesn’t mean we’re free from the effects.

Contamination

There are multiple ways we can come into contact with 1,4-DCB. These can be broken down into four main categories:

1 – Airborne

1,4-DCB is easily volatilised or converted into an airborne particle via its use as a deodorant. So having a particular brand of scented bin bags in your house, or if you use a urinal when you pee, you might be exposed to 1,4-DCB.

The worst exposure to 1,4-DCB is via Airborne particles. But it’s not the only form that can affect us.

2 – Water

1,4-DCB has also been found in the groundwater; sadly, it’s not uncommon. While manufacturing is the leading cause of water contamination, other factors also contribute. For example, the disposal of household cleaning products, mothballs and, of course, the use of certain urinal blocks.

3 – Food

1,4-DCB can be found in several food items such as parsley, white lupine, radish, and mamey sapote; the causes of this? Unsafe use of insecticides and germicides. Another food source that can potentially be contaminated with 1,4-DCB is meat. Traces of 1,4-DCB have been found in fish, beef and poultries like pigeons. Animals are affected in the same way we are; what they eat, drink and breathe.

4 – Soil

1,4-DCB can bind to soil and sediments, making it number 4 on our list our contaminants. Of course, this is probably the least problematic of the four categories. But the exposure of 1,4-DCB from manufacturing processes and agriculture can have long-lasting repercussions. Most people in today’s modern world have minimal contact with soil. But contaminated soils can continue to release 1,4-DCB into our water, food and even into the air we breathe for years to come.

How To Minimise the Effects

So, now that we know the effect 1,4-DCB can have on our body and where contamination can come from, I’m sure you’ll want to minimise your contact with 1,4-DCB.

Completely stopping all possible contact with 1,4-DCB is sadly impossible today. But by being conscientious about what we buy, we can minimise our contact and that of the people around us.

For example, try to buy organic foods from trusted organic grocery stores. Why? Organic food has much stronger regulation than conventionally grown foods, as they must not use insecticides.

Be careful what cleaning products you buy; only use non-carcinogenic cleaning products. As already mentioned, urinal blocks are one of the worst cleaning products for 1,4-DCB. So, look for environmentally safe urinal cakes that don’t contain things like 1,4-DCB or other benzenes. Something as simple as buying non-scented cleaning bin bags can also help minimise exposure to 1,4-DCB.

Also, take care of the insecticide you use. Do you need to use mothballs? If you have a problem with moths, consider using alternative remedies, like cedar wood, which is proven to repel insects like moths.

Get Checked

If, for whatever reason, you have had an elevated exposure to cleaning products like urinal blocks, consider talking to your doctor. It’s better to be safe than sorry. Early detection of things like cancer can significantly increase the chances of successful treatment.

Conclusion

To summarise what we’ve learned, or what is now known as a TL;DR (too long; didn’t read), here is a conclusion of this article.

Urinal blocks and cancer can be linked because most urinal blocks are made with p-dichlorobenzene or 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, a known carcinogenic. Extended exposure to 1,4-Dichlorobenzene can come from many sources, the most common being airborne particles, water, food, and soil. To minimise your exposure to 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, try to buy organic foods, use non-carcinogenic cleaning products and urinal blocks, and be careful with the insecticide you use. If you have had an elevated exposure to 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, consider talking to your doctor.