carcinogen
18
7.2
- noun
- /kɑːrˈsɪnədʒən/
- Specialized
- BACKGROUND: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known carcinogens and suspected endocrine disruptors.
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Watch on YouTubeThe addiction to sugar, not to mention those food dyes which are carcinogens, is rampant.
- The addiction to sugar, not to mention those food dyes which are carcinogens, is rampant.
- They've been helping them with the folks at Georgetown to remove known carcinogens from the hospital meal tray.
- There's these nasty chemicals and sunscreen Oxybenzen's that are, you know, these are probable carcinogens, right?
- We've determined a number of carcinogens, things that will drive the development of cancer in some people.
- And we've seen recall after recall after recall, for instance, of sunscreens based on different carcinogens and so on.
- I put that little, you know, that little carcinogen cooter stick in my mouth and I take that hit, you know, and I get them cigarettes.
Examples
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The World Health Organization classifies processed meat as a Group 1 carcinogen.
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Military personnel are also exposed to multiple carcinogens, as are civilian workers in the private sector.
Academic text (1992) -
In the skin, environmental carcinogens can directly hit the cells.
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In 2014, the World Health Organization classified processed meat as a group one carcinogen, the same category given to cigarettes.
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Another milestone was reached this year in a dispute over asbestos, a carcinogen.
Academic text (2001) -
Personal claims of health effects from carcinogens were congruent with the epidemiological evidence.
Academic text (2002) -
With chronic exposure, they are potent carcinogens of the liver.
Academic text (2003) -
Diesel exhaust contains 40 toxic chemical pollutants, 26 of which are known carcinogens or reproductive toxicants.
Academic text (2004) -
Evidence also suggests that polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a known carcinogen, also exhibit these endocrine effects (ATSDR, 2001).
Academic text (2009) -
The World Health Organization announced that tobacco smoke is a carcinogen that can lead to lung cancer.
Surface Forms
Morphology
carcinogen = cancer (semi-transparent) = carcino + gen
The relation to 'cancer' is recoverable for learners who recognise medical combining forms, but 'carcino-' and the suffix '-gen' are bound, technical morphemes rather than common everyday affixes.
Etymology
Carcinogen comes from Greek parts carcino- meaning 'crab' and -gen meaning 'produce', as in generate. So a carcinogen is literally something that 'produces' cancer, which is why the word is used for substances that can cause the disease.