carcinogen
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(kars′ĭn-ŏ-jen″)

(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)

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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(kars′ĭn-ŏ-jen″)

(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)

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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