A cancer-causing substance is known as what?

Study for the Glencoe Health Exam. Prepare with interactive flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question includes hints and detailed explanations. Get ready for your health exam!

Multiple Choice

A cancer-causing substance is known as what?

Explanation:
A cancer-causing substance is called a carcinogen. The term carcinogen describes any agent that has the capacity to cause cancer, often by damaging DNA or disrupting normal cell growth. In tobacco contexts, tar is a component that carries many cancer-causing chemicals, but tar itself isn’t the overall term for substances that cause cancer. Leukoplakia is a precancerous lesion, not a substance that causes cancer, and smokeless tobacco is a product with cancer risk, not the general term. So carcinogen is the best answer because it defines the kind of substance that can lead to cancer.

A cancer-causing substance is called a carcinogen. The term carcinogen describes any agent that has the capacity to cause cancer, often by damaging DNA or disrupting normal cell growth. In tobacco contexts, tar is a component that carries many cancer-causing chemicals, but tar itself isn’t the overall term for substances that cause cancer. Leukoplakia is a precancerous lesion, not a substance that causes cancer, and smokeless tobacco is a product with cancer risk, not the general term. So carcinogen is the best answer because it defines the kind of substance that can lead to cancer.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy