carcinogen

(kars′ĭn-ŏ-jen″ )

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(kar-sin′ŏ-jĕn)
[ carcino- + -gen ]
Any substance or agent that produces cancer or increases the risk of developing cancer in humans or animals. SEE TABLE: Carcinogens
carcinogenic (kar″sĭ-nō-jen′ik )

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, adj.
Carcinogens

Carcinogen	Type of Agent	Organs or Tissues Commonly Damaged	Comments
Alcohol consumption	Consumer toxin	Upper aerodigestive tracts, esp. mouth and pharynx and larynx	Effect is most pronounced in people who smoke
Arsenic	Chemical	Blood, bone marrow, digestive tract, skin, urinary bladder, other organ systems	May contaminate water supply
Asbestos	Mineral	Respiratory tract, pleura and peritoneum	Associated with lung cancers and mesotheliomas. Effect is most pronounced in people who have smoked
Cigarette smoke	Consumer toxin	Aerodigestive tracts, other organs	Also a major cause of cardiovascular disease
Formaldehyde	Chemical	Nasopharynx, blood and bone marrow	Used as an embalming agent
Hepatitis B	Virus	Liver	Exposure to blood or body fluids
Hepatitis C	Virus	Liver	Exposure to blood or body fluids
Human Papillomavirus	Virus	Epithelial cells of the oropharynx and genitalia	Interpersonal contact, e.g., sexually transmitted
Mustard Gas	Chemical	Blistering agent	First used in WWI
Smokeless tobacco	Consumer toxin	Oropharynx, gastrointestinal tract	Retained in the buccal mucosa. Also known as “spit tobacco”
Sunshine (solar radiation/ ultraviolet radiation)	Physical	Skin, mucous membranes	Cause of basal cell, squamous cell carcinomas, melanoma. Outdoor exposures or indoor (tanning booths)
Vinyl chloride	Chemical	Liver, possibly brain	Used in the chemical industry to make plastic/ polymers
X-rays and other forms of ionizing radiation	Physical	Many organs, depending on those that are penetrated	Used in diagnostic applications in health care; exposure to radioactive elements

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