A carcinogen, a cancer-causing substance, is most known as a substance that comes from tobaccos smoke. Among all of the substances in tobacco smoke, 20 carcinogens cause lung tumors, and therefore cause lung cancer. But carcinogens don’t come from tobacco smoke alone, there are several other sources for them. For example, asbestos exposure occurs from the inhalation of fibres in a working environment, and the inhalation of air in the vicinity of sources like factories handling asbestos. This causes asbestos-related lung cancer, thus making asbestos a cancer-causing substance, or carcinogen. There are more examples of carcinogens, like ones that come from radiation; gamma rays and alpha particles. However, there are non-radioactive carcinogens as well, like asbestos, certain dioxins, and of course tobacco smoke. There are a lot of carcinogens that are natural too, for example, Aflatoxin, a fungus which is an Aspergillus flavus, growing on stored grains, nuts, and peanut butter and is a naturally occurring microbial carcinogen. Carcinogens can be fond in prepared food as well. Cooking food at high temperatures like grilling and barbecuing meats can lead to the formation of many potent carcinogens that can be compared to those found in cigarettes, The charring of food resembles coking and tobacco pyrolysis, producing similar carcinogens. So now we know where some carcinogens come from, but how do they damage a body? When a carcinogen enters the body, it tries to eliminate it through a process called bio-transformation. This reaction occurs because the body tries to make the carcinogen more water-soluble so it can be removed from the body. But, when they don’t leave the body, carcinogens cause changes in our cells that can lead to cancer, some can even cause genetic mutations that come from abnormal cell growth and tumors. Others won’t attack our genes, but instead trick our cells into cell division overdrive and can lead to genetic mutation. Our genes are constantly under attack by gene mutations, and our DNA protects us, but carcinogens in our body harm the DNA making us more susceptible to genetic mutation. It’s best to keep carcinogens you can avoid away from your body, and try your best to protect yourself.
