A carcinogen is a substance that promotes cancer formation due to its ability to damage the genome or cause the disruption of cellular metabollic processes. Exposure to some chemicals and harzardous substances can increase the risk of cancer. Cancers caused by involuntary exposure to environmental carcinogens most likely occur in sub groups of the population, especially workers in certain industries.
Carcinogenecity is generally associated with synthetic chemicals, but it is likely to arise in both natural and synthetic substances. Natural carcinogens like mycotoxins resulting from metabolism of molds and aflatoxin B produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus growing on stored grains, nuts and etc are few examples of potent naturally occuring carcinogens.
Certain viruses have been found to cause cancer in humans, like the Hepatitis B virus and the Human papilloma virus.
Synthetic environmental risk factors are in two groups:
Radioactive carcinogens and non- radioactive carcinogens. Radioactive carcinogens are radiations, most especially ultraviolet radiations.
non-radioactive carcinogens for example are exposure to tobacco smoke, second hand smoke, industrial smoke (from plastic factories or fuel emission from engines etc), certain dioxins, vinyl chloride from which polyvinyl chloride is made and many more.
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