Biomaterial Database

Chemical carcinogens in the human environment; problems and quantitative aspects. 1976

R Preussmann

A short review on environmental carcinogenesis by chemicals is given. Problems related with the determination of carcinogenicity of chemicals are mentioned. Some critical factors in the monitoring of environmental carcinogens are discussed in relation to a quantification of human exposure to such compounds. An attempt at risk evaluation is made for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, vinyl chloride, N-nitroso compounds and aflatoxins. It is concluded that there is a "threshold dose" for individual carcinogens that does not lead to tumor induction within the normal life span. The probability of multifactorial cause of human cancer by environmental carcinogens, however, does not allow the definition of "safe" levels of such compounds in view of syncarcinogenic and other enhancing and/or modifying effects.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009369	Neoplasms	New abnormal growth of tissue. Malignant neoplasms show a greater degree of anaplasia and have the properties of invasion and metastasis, compared to benign neoplasms.	Benign Neoplasm,Cancer,Malignant Neoplasm,Tumor,Tumors,Benign Neoplasms,Malignancy,Malignant Neoplasms,Neoplasia,Neoplasm,Neoplasms, Benign,Cancers,Malignancies,Neoplasias,Neoplasm, Benign,Neoplasm, Malignant,Neoplasms, Malignant
D009603	Nitroso Compounds	Organic compounds containing the nitroso (-N	Compounds, Nitroso
D011083	Polycyclic Compounds	Compounds which contain two or more rings in their structure.	Compounds, Polycyclic
D002274	Carcinogens, Environmental	Carcinogenic substances that are found in the environment.	Environmental Carcinogens
D004787	Environmental Pollution	Contamination of the air, bodies of water, or land with substances that are harmful to human health and the environment.	Pollution, Environmental,Soil Pollution,Pollution, Soil
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000348	Aflatoxins	Furano-furano-benzopyrans that are produced by ASPERGILLUS from STERIGMATOCYSTIN. They are structurally related to COUMARINS and easily oxidized to an epoxide form to become ALKYLATING AGENTS. Members of the group include AFLATOXIN B1; aflatoxin B2, aflatoxin G1, aflatoxin G2; AFLATOXIN M1; and aflatoxin M2.	Aflatoxin
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012306	Risk	The probability that an event will occur. It encompasses a variety of measures of the probability of a generally unfavorable outcome.	Relative Risk,Relative Risks,Risk, Relative,Risks,Risks, Relative
D012907	Smoking	Willful or deliberate act of inhaling and exhaling SMOKE from burning substances or agents held by hand.	Smoking Behaviors,Smoking Habit,Behavior, Smoking,Behaviors, Smoking,Habit, Smoking,Habits, Smoking,Smoking Behavior,Smoking Habits