2007-01-24 17:34:10 · 1 answers · asked by marie_duals 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
They are chemicals that are known or suspected to cause cancer. Many chemicals in the drug industry that are used to produce medicine utilize many of these chemicals as a base or solvent in their manufacturing process. Examples include-Methylene Chloride, Methyl-tert-buytl-ether and formaldehyde. Sometimes the carcinogen is an unwanted by-product of a chemical reaction such as when treating drinking water with chlorine to disinfect it so it's safe to drink , backfires and the production of trihalomethanes and Halo-acetic acid is formed when chlorine oxidizes the organic chemicals (such as formic and tannic acids, um from lets say rotting leaves and such) in the water. THM and HAA are unwanted carcenogenic by products of chlorine disinfection practices. Hope this helps a little..........
2007-01-24 17:48:22 · answer #1 · answered by crazymofo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋