intermediate definition an intermediate is a substance formed during a middle step of a chemical reaction between reactants and the desired product
The international pictogram for chemicals that are sensitising, mutagenic, carcinogenic or toxic to reproduction. A carcinogen is any substance, radionuclide, or radiation that is an agent directly involved in causing cancer. This may be due to the ability to damage the genome or to the disruption of cellular metabolic processes. Several radioactive substances are considered carcinogens, but their carcinogenic activity is attributed to the radiation, for example gamma rays and alpha particles, which they emit. Common examples of non-radioactive carcinogens are inhaled asbestos, certain dioxins, and tobacco smoke.
A carcinogen is an agent that induces neoplasia, i.e. cancer. Whatâs an agent? Chemicals, radiation, and viruses are among the agents implicated in causing cancer. A mutagen is a chemical that can cause changes (mutations) to the genetic material of a cell (DNA). A mutagen is one possible pathway to carcinogenesis. When mutations occur in germ cells (i.e. sperm or ova) it is possible for the mutation to be transmitted to offspring. A mutagen may be a carcinogen, but the link is not absolute. That is, not all chemicals shown to be mutagens are necessarily carcinogens. Conversely, not all carcinogens are mutagens. There are nongenotoxic carcinogensâchemicals that cause cancer by several mechanisms including by inducing sustained cell injury. Another important idea.