a carcinogen is a chemical or treatment that

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Something that can directly cause cancer

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A carcinogen is something that can cause you to have cancer. It may be a substance in the air, a product you use, or a chemical in foods and drinks. Just because you had contact with a carcinogen doesn’t mean that you’ll get cancer.

Types of carcinogens include: Chemicals/substances: Certain chemicals used the home or workplace may be carcinogenic. For example, asbestos in insulation can lead to lung cancer and mesothelioma. Environmental radiation: Ultraviolet radiation from the sun is a well-known cause of skin cancer.

Most carcinogens are tested because they once caused cancer in lab animals, as it can be assumed (for safety reasons), that any element causing disease in animals will most likely do the same for humans. These types of tests look at several groups of people to see if there is a link between cancer and other factors.

Carcinogen. The two primary mechanisms by which carcinogens initiate the formation of such tumours is via alterations in DNA that encourage cell division and that prevent cells from being able to self-destruct when stimulated by normal triggers, such as DNA damage or cellular injury (a process known as apoptosis ).