Exposure to environmental toxicants is a well documented predisposing factor for cancer. Many types of carcinogenic toxicants are found in the environment.This review focuses on three types of toxicantsheavy metals, pesticides and pollutants. Through different mechanisms of cell damage, these toxicants cause malignant growth. There is a strong correlation found between malignancy and cytokines. This work establishes the link between environmental toxicants and changes in cytokine levels with cancer progression.