Hazardous or Poisonous Substance
carcinogen
car·cin·o·gen [ kahr-sin-uh-jen, -noh-jen, -juhn ]
Definitions related to carcinogens:
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Any chemical, biological or physical agents that increase the risk of neoplasms in humans or animals. Carcinogens include natural or synthesized compounds, certain viruses, and various sources of radiation. A carcinogen may directly alter the genetic material of cells (genotoxic), thereby initiating or promoting the process of malignant transformation; it also may induce cancers by mechanisms that do not involve a direct alteration of cellular genetic material (non-genotoxic). (NCI04)NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Any substance that causes cancer.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Substances that increase the risk of NEOPLASMS in humans or animals. Both genotoxic chemicals, which affect DNA directly, and nongenotoxic chemicals, which induce neoplasms by other mechanism, are included.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(chemical carcinogen) A chemical compound that is capable of causing cancer in animals and/or in humans after repeated and long duration of exposure.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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(chemical carcinogen) Any chemical that increases the risk of neoplasms; includes genotoxic chemicals, which affect DNA directly, and nongenotoxic chemicals, which induce neoplasms by other mechanisms.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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