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Many people fear things like being attacked by a shark, struck by lightning, or swept away by a tornado. The good news is that these events are very unlikely to happen. But the bad news is that many mundane and seemingly harmless phenomena are much more dangerous and closer to us than we might imagine, posing a greater threat than the irrational phobias we carry with us.

To learn more about what risks are exactly lurking around us, we asked Bored Panda readers to list some of the things they believe are commonly seen as safe but are actually dangerous. Scroll down to find the most popular answers, and don’t forget to share your own insights below.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous The combination of church and state.

Michael Bain , Debby Hudson / unsplash (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
212points
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#2

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous People doing stupid pranks on strangers.... Someone is going to pick the wrong person on the wrong day.

Sean Riddell , Keira Burton / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
187points
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#3

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Listening to unlicensed influencers, advertisements, politicians/entertainment news folks and Facebook posts in regard to healthcare matters.

Emily Bellator Withak , cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
171points
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To find the mundane things that we think are safe but actually aren’t, we don’t have to dig deep. Most of us use them in our daily lives without even realizing it. 

An independent American laboratory, Valisure, and its dozen scientists over the past five years have discovered potentially cancer-causing chemicals in commonly used medications, hand sanitizers, sunscreens, antiperspirant body sprays, and dry shampoos.

#4

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Watching Fox News.

Katy Garrabrant , James Mitchell / flickr(not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
133points
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#5

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous A cat walking down the stairs in front of you.

Marti Morin , Breanne Sartori / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
132points
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#6

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Riding a motorcycle without proper gear, despite the heat.

Chrissy Towanda Quaghebeur , cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
132points
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The organization aims to shut down the widely spread misconception that products people buy have been through enough testing to be deemed safe. 

“Most consumers assume that because it’s for sale, it must be safe,” says Teresa Murray, director at the nonprofit U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG). “Oftentimes, that’s very much not true.”
#7

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Getting your neck “popped” by a chiropractor.

Cindy Ervin Holmes , Karolina Kaboompics / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
132points
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#8

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Organized religion.

April Sleeper-Fitzpatrick , Gift Habeshaw / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
131points
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#9

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous A gun that is supposedly not loaded.

Geoff Schwartz , Pixabay / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
126points
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Despite common belief, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration isn’t thoroughly analyzing every shampoo or supplement that is available for sale. Interestingly enough, the FDA doesn’t have to approve most cosmetics before they are put on the shelves. Not to mention the effect it will have on our health after years of daily use.

#10

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Approaching and/or feeding wildlife.

Amy Roche , Dmitry Demidov / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
125points
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#11

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Going anywhere where is a large crowd.

Kimberly Broome , Wendy Wei / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
119points
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#12

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Cooking yourself in the sun.

Marisa Colledge , Oleksandr P/ pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
112points
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Products like sunscreen, hair care, and fragrances are regularly causing concern for scientists. “The more we look [at consumer products], the worse it looks,” says Dr. Megan Schwarzman. However, she adds that it’s not always easy to understand the potential risks caused by some of the chemicals found.

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#13

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Fireworks.

Melanie Findley:

Whoever thinks fireworks are safe is more dangerous than fireworks.

Joan Sullivan , Rakicevic Nenad / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
109points
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#14

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Thinking that bears in their backyard are cute when they actually eat people. Also, trying to tease buffalo on the road in Yellowstone.

Laureli Christensen , Gregory Rogers / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
107points
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#15

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Running stop signs - why won’t people stop?

Janet Howe , Abstrakt Xxcellence Studios / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
95points
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“There’s lead in pigments in lipstick,” she says. “If you wear lipstick once a month, it’s probably not a big exposure.” But it’s hard to say if wearing it a few times a week is enough to cause health problems over the years or decades. What complicates matters even more is that it’s nearly impossible to isolate which chemicals may pose a threat to our well-being, as we’re constantly exposed to toxins at low concentrations.

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#16

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Vaping.

Jacqueline Fooks , Connor Danylenko / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
86points
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#17

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Driving. It is ranked as the number 1 most dangerous daily activity in the world. Cooking, surprisingly, is 2nd.

Raz Failagao , Kei Scampa / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
81points
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#18

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Cycling without a helmet.

Henna Iso-Kouvola , Blue Bird / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
77points
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In a new study released just last month (July 2024), researchers found arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals in 100% of the tampons they tested. However, it’s not yet recognized as a serious health threat, as scientists aren’t sure how absorption in women’s reproductive organs works.

#19

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Sleeping with babies in their beds - can turn deadly way too quickly.

Stefanie Amos , RDNE Stock project / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
76points
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#20

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Going to school in America.

Esther Ching , Diana / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
75points
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#21

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Most foods in the American diet.

Alicia Patterson Cochran , cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
74points
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Even the water that we consume daily to survive is not completely safe. Bottled H2O that we buy in stores has been found to contain microplastics that may accumulate in the body and cause health issues in the long run. However, as with the chemicals mentioned previously, the health effects of microplastics aren’t yet fully proven. 
#22

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Having guns in the home.

Laura Adams , MIKI Yoshihito / flickr(not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
72points
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#23

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Pregnancy.

Rose Ogwa , MART PRODUCTION / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
68points
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#24

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Drinking alcohol.

Dana Heimos , Isabella Mendes / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
67points
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The main takeaway here is that we should be more cautious of the things that look the most harmless, not the ones that have a one in 4 million chance of happening, like a shark attack.

If you're curious to know more, make sure to check out our previous articles on dangerous but completely legal things.

#25

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Hiking in the wilderness, visiting National Parks. People think everywhere is Disneyland.

Sharla Cheney , Oziel Gómez / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
67points
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#26

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Letting a toddler play with a pill bottle just because it has a child safety cap on it.

Janine Giroux , SHVETS production / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
58points
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#27

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Swimming in any body of water in Florida and Louisiana.

Kimberly MacDonald Mathis , Alfred GF / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
58points
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#28

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Riding horses.
Gerd Hegge:
I hate to admit that you might be right (I've been riding for more than 50 years)

Mijou Line Defaux , Los Muertos Crew / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
56points
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#29

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Driving with your seat too close to the steering wheel! I see people driving where he wheel is almost touching their chest, that airbag comes out they're dead just from that.

Shannon Young , Pixabay / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
51points
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#30

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Giving birth. It didn’t seem that scary when I did it, I had complete faith I would be fine, but watching someone you love do it is terrifying.

Jennifer White , Jonathan Borba / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
49points
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#31

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Trampolines.

Ashley Martin , Karolina Kaboompics / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
47points
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#32

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Allergies.

Alia Cadre , cottonbro studio cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
46points
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#33

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Plastic surgery or any surgery really.

Tanya FaginAldrich , cottonbro studio / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
44points
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#34

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Rides at theme parks, and carnivals.

Ellen-Jo Lancey , Amar Preciado/ pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
42points
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#35

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Four Wheelers.

Lisa Navarra Michalowski , Tima Miroshnichenko / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
37points
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#36

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Living in Australia.

Jimmy Gortva , Catarina Sousa / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
35points
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#37

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Children playing with remotes. Batteries are lethal.

Jodie Lynne Howell , Ketut Subiyanto / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
31points
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#38

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous The ocean! Sharks, riptides, high tide, low tide, jelly fish so many dangers. But I still go in to the point I get whistled at by life guards. One day a sharks going to get me. But I go to the beach like once every few years so.

Loren Orts , Elianne Dipp / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
27points
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#39

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Skydiving.

Debbie Davis Robacker , Tom Fisk / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
23points
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#40

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous A deer! Not just because they run in front of your car (or into it sometimes), but if you meet them in the woods, they are likely to hurt you.

Julie Moore Critten , Aaron J Hill / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
21points
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#41

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Water beads.

Mary J. Tampakes , John Blyberg / wikipedia(not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
20points
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#42

“Can Turn Deadly Way Too Quickly”: 42 Seemingly Harmless Things That Can Be Incredibly Dangerous Tampons.

Lisa Juanita Dos Santos , Karolina Kaboompics / pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:
14points
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