Carcinogens are cancer causing agents.
The State of California maintains a comprehensive list of carcinogens in order to comply with the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (Proposition 65). The hydrocarbons in smog are carcinogenic as are the preservatives such as DEA and TEA used to extend the shelf life or improve the effectiveness of cosmetics and some commercial baby care products. Many combustion products are carcinogenic, including dioxin, cigarette smoke, emissions from coal fired power plants and automobile exhaust.
Some chemicals, such as nitrites, are precursors to carcinogens. Nitrites alone do not cause cancer, but when ingested they are converted to nitrosamines which are carcinogenic. Charring of foods creates carcinogens similar to tobacco. Lead and lead compounds, X-rays, compounds found in grilled meats, and many substances used in textile dyes, paints and inks are a few of the 246 substances listed by the US Government as carcinogenic in 2004.
UV radiation causes melanomas and a host of less severe skin cancers. X-ray radiation causes many different cancers including thyroid cancer and leukemia.
Carcinogenic effects depend on many variables including other toxic stressors in the environment, the length of exposure, and the toxicity of the carcinogen. Cancers usually take a long time to develop, so the cause may be hard to identify. Healthy lifestyle choices may be the best way to avoid cancer.
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