what part of the cigarette by-product is responsible for the carcinogenic effects?

Answer 1

I think everything but the nicotine. And nicotine isn't so hot for you either, but it's not cancer-causing per se. It's the other 3,999 chemicals that cause cancer.

Answer 2

Well, briefly put- anything you burn becomes mildly/greatly (depends on what exactly) radioactive, and thus, CARCINOGENIC. Consider the fact that recent reports have implicated acrylamide in fried or overheated carbohydrate foods (such as french fries and potato chips) as a possible carcinogen...
Hundreds of chemicals are capable of inducing cancer! Weeee!

Answer 3

none of the above are correct. Carbon dioxide covers white blood cells in the lungs and makes it harder to breath. Cigarettes have many carcingens that must be experimentally determined.... look at the chemicals in cigarettes.... uranium for example most likely gives you cancer!

Answer 4

there isn't ONE part - there are 43 carcinogens in cigarette SMOKE that are toxic.

Answer 5

No scientific proof here but my dad believes it's the paper that causes cancer. I say it has to do with the tar. We're probably both not right but it leads to interesting conversations.

Answer 6

Carcinogen
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
In pathology, a carcinogen is any substance or agent that promotes cancer. Carcinogens are also often, but not necessarily, mutagens or teratogens.

Carcinogens may cause cancer by altering cellular metabolism or damaging DNA directly in cells, which interferes with normal biological processes. Aflatoxin B1, which is produced by the fungus Aspergillus flavus growing on stored grains, nuts and peanut butter, is an example of a potent, naturally-occurring microbial carcinogen. Cooking protein-rich food at high temperatures, such as broiling or barbecuing meats, can lead to the formation of many potent carcinogens that are comparable to those found in cigarrette smoke (i.e., benzo[a]pyrene). Pre-cooking meats in a microwave oven for 2-3 minutes before broiling can help minimize the formation of these carcinogens.

Benzene, kepone, EDB, asbestos, and the waste rock of oil-shale mining have all been classified as carcinogenic. As far back as the 1930s, industrial and tobacco smoke were identified as sources of dozens of carcinogens, including benzopyrene, tobacco-specific nitrosamines such as nitrosonornicotine, and reactive aldehydes such as formaldehyde — which is also a hazard in embalming and making plastics. Vinyl chloride from PVC is a carcinogen. Certain viruses such as Hepatitis B and human papilloma viruses have been found to cause cancer in humans. The first one shown to cause cancer in animals was Rous sarcoma virus, discovered in 1910 by Peyton Rous.

CERCLA identifies all radionuclides as carcinogens, although the nature of the emitted radiation (alpha, beta, or gamma, and the energy), its consequent capacity to cause ionization in tissues, and the magnitude of radiation exposure, determine the potential hazard. For example, Thorotrast, an (incidentally-radioactive) suspension previously used as a contrast medium in x-ray diagnostics, is thought by some to be the most potent human carcinogen known because of its retention within various organs and persistent emission of alpha particles. Both Wilhelm Röntgen and Marie Curie died of cancer caused by radiation exposure during their experiments.

Recent reports have implicated acrylamide in fried or overheated carbohydrate foods (such as french fries and potato chips) as a possible carcinogen. Studies are underway at the FDA and European regulatory agencies to assess its potential risk. The charred residue on barbecued meats has been identified as a carcinogen, along with many other tars.

Co-carcinogens are chemicals which do not separately cause cancer, but do so in specific combinations.

Contents [hide]
1 IARC classification of carcinogens
2 EPA classification of carcinogens
3 See also
4 External links



[edit]
IARC classification of carcinogens
Group 1: the agent (mixture) is carcinogenic to humans. The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are carcinogenic to humans.
Group 2A: the agent (mixture) is probably carcinogenic to humans. The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are probably carcinogenic to humans.
Group 2B: the agent (mixture) is possibly carcinogenic to humans. The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Group 3: the agent (mixture or exposure circumstance) is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans.
Group 4: the agent (mixture) is probably not carcinogenic to humans.
Further details can be found in the IARC Monographs.

[edit]
EPA classification of carcinogens
Group A: Human Carcinogen
Group B: Probable Human Carcinogen
Group C: Possible Human Carcinogen
Group D: Not classifiable as to Human Carcinogenicity
Group E: Evidence of Non-Carcinogenicity for Humans
Further details can be found in the EPA List of Chemicals Evaluated for Carcinogenic Potential.

[edit]
See also
International Agency for Research on Cancer
[edit]
External links
U.S. National Toxicology Program's Report on Carcinogens
Recognized Carcinogens
Cancer and carcinogens A cancer related site.
Tumors (and related structures), Cancer, and Oncology
Benign - Premalignant - Carcinoma in situ - Malignant
Topography: Anus - Bladder - Bone - Brain - Breast - Cervix - Colon/rectum - Duodenum - Endometrium - Esophagus - Eye - Gallbladder - Head/Neck - Liver - Larynx - Lung - Mouth - Pancreas - Penis - Prostate - Kidney - Ovaries - Skin - Stomach - Testicles - Thyroid

Morphology: Papilloma/carcinoma - Adenoma/adenocarcinoma - Soft tissue sarcoma - Melanoma - Fibroma/fibrosarcoma - Lipoma/liposarcoma - Leiomyoma/leiomyosarcoma - Rhabdomyoma/rhabdomyosarcoma - Mesothelioma - Angioma/angiosarcoma - Osteoma/osteosarcoma - Chondroma/chondrosarcoma - Glioma - Lymphoma/leukemia

Treatment: Chemotherapy - Radiation therapy - Immunotherapy - Experimental cancer treatment

Related structures: Cyst - Dysplasia - Hamartoma - Neoplasia - Nodule - Polyp - Pseudocyst

Misc: Tumor suppressor genes/oncogenes - Staging/grading - Carcinogenesis/metastasis - Carcinogen - Research - Paraneoplastic phenomenon - ICD-O - List of oncology-related terms


Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carcinogen"
Categories: Biochemicals | Carcinogens | Oncology | Toxicology

ViewsArticle Discussion Edit this page History Personal toolsSign in / create account Navigation
Main Page
Community Portal
Featured articles
Current events
Recent changes
Random article
Help
Contact Wikipedia
Donations
Search
Toolbox
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Printable version
Permanent link
Cite this article
In other languages
Dansk
Deutsch
Español
Français
עברית
Bahasa Indonesia
Italiano
Lietuvių
Bahasa Melayu
Nederlands
Polski
Русский
Suomi
中文

This page was last modified 21:04, 20 June 2006. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.)
Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers

Answer 7

i believe it is the smoke particles that are inhaled (the carbon dioxide)

Answer 8

the 4,000 + added chemicals..that is also what people, like me, are addicted too