What are carcinogens?

Carcinogens are substances that can cause cancer in humans.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) divides all types of carcinogens into three large groups. Understanding these categories will help you better take care of your health and understand what actually lies behind the words «possibly carcinogenic substances.» Let’s figure it out together!

1. Substances that definitely cause cancer โ€” 132 elements

This is the first group; it includes substances whose carcinogenicity is clearly known and has been studied for a long time. Here are some examples:

  • Tobacco: Smoking is one of the leading causes of lung, mouth, and other cancers.
  • Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver, breast, and esophageal cancer.
  • Asbestos: Inhaling asbestos is associated with the development of lung cancer and mesothelioma.
  • Mercury: Some forms of mercury are recognized as carcinogenic under certain conditions of exposure.

These substances have already been well studied, and humanity knows their harm based on facts and statistics. It is better to avoid them or minimize contact.

2. Substances whose link to cancer is not yet fully proven

This category includes substances about which we are not yet fully confident in their carcinogenicity. The IARC divides them into two subgroups:

2A. Probably carcinogenic โ€” 96 elements

According to scientists, these substances most likely cause cancer. They usually have compelling evidence in animals and some data in humans. Examples:

  • Some pesticides: Long-term exposure may increase the risk of cancer.
  • Solar radiation (ultraviolet): Increases the risk of melanomas and other types of skin cancer.
2B. Possibly carcinogenic โ€” 320 elements

Here are substances that have some signs of carcinogenicity, but the evidence is weak. Examples:

  • Caffeine: Some studies link it to the risk of cancer, but the results are not unambiguous.
  • Greenhouse gases: Their impact on health requires further research.
  • Aspartame: Was added in 2023.

This information suggests that you should be cautious with these substances and follow new research.

3. Substances that are not considered carcinogenic โ€” 499 elements

The last group includes substances for which carcinogenicity has not been proven, or there is simply not enough data to say anything. There are also two types here:

  • Potentially non-carcinogenic: Substances for which there is enough data to confidently say that they do not cause cancer.
  • Unclassified substances: Substances for which there is not enough information to determine their carcinogenicity.

Many common chemical compounds that we use every day fall into this category. This means that either they are safe or they have not been studied enough to draw a conclusion.

Conclusion

The division of carcinogens according to the IARC classification helps us understand which substances may be dangerous and require caution. Knowing these groups, you can make more informed decisions to protect your health. It is important to follow the news and recommendations of specialists to minimize the risk of developing cancer.

If you want to learn more about the classification of carcinogens and the list of substances, information can be found on the official IARC website.

And the updated list of all carcinogenic substances in the world around us can be found here