Carcinogens sample essay

1.1. Tobacco smoke or its main compound Nicotine is an organic, pyrrolidine-like alkaloid. Nicotine is found in many plants of the night-shade family, most notably tobacco, potato, tomato, and green pepper. Nicotine is widely used in insecticide industry, and is included in many insecticides, mainly because it is a potent nerve poison when used in high quantities or concentrations. In large doses it also typically causes vomiting and dizziness. In lower proportions, however, nicotine can serve as a stimulant, which is the major factor in creating heavy habit-forming qualities of tobacco smoking (and chewing). It increases the flow of adrenaline and other receptors, which leads to increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose level.

Nicotine has minor carcinogenic qualities. It has not been officially assigned to carcinogenic group (Wiki, 2006); if considered separately from tobacco smoking, it does not encourage the development of cancer in healthy cells and has no mutagenic properties. The major negative factor, however, is that nicotine and its effects impede apoptosis (programmed death of cells aimed to destroy unwanted cells).

1.2. Benzene or Benzol just like nicotine is an organic substance. It is a colorless and highly flammable liquid with a sweet smell. Benzene is one of the elements of gasoline, and is an aromatic hydrocarbon. Benzene is widely used in industry for production of rubber, plastics, medications, gasoline, and various dyes. The largest use of benzene so far is an intermediate in the production of other chemicals. Such chemicals include phenol, styrene, and cyclohexane.

Benzol is a highly carcinogenic chemical, a human carcinogen. Eating foods that contain benzene in small dozes can lead to vomiting, sleepiness, dizziness, convulsions, and even death. Long-term exposure to benzene can lead to leukemia, which is a fatal type of cancer of blood-forming organs. Most frequently, exposure to benzene causes Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). In addition, benzene damages bone marrow, and can cause anemia, as well as depress the immune system. Also, benzene has many other carcinogenic effects on pregnancy, menstrual periods, and blood.

2a.1. Androgenic Steroids are man-made chemicals, which related to male hormones. The term androgenic refers to increased masculine body functions and characteristics. And the term steroid refers to a certain class of drugs. This chemical is typically administered when the body does not produce enough male hormone testosterone. Androgenic steroids are widely used in sport (to increase muscles and shape) and in medicine, particularly when treating patients with AIDS.

The chemical produces hormones in the body, which typically helps regulate blood pressure, fertility, and male development. However, these hormones can also lead to cancer, since they can have carcinogenic effects in some circumstances. Although it has a limited effect of human carcinogenicity, it has caused cancer in some cases when the substance was used in medicine.

2a.2. Azacytidine is a man-made chemical, which an analogue of cytosine nucleoside used in the DNA. This chemical is widely used in treatment of leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome.

No evidence exists so far as to the carcinogenic effect of azacytidyne on humans. However, long-term administration of this chemical to mice and rats has caused substantial liver tumors and skin tumors.

2b. Gasoline is a highly flammable liquid that is widely used in internal combustion engines and fuel. It consists primarily of hydrocarbons, and is the major fuel for land vehicles and aircrafts. Gasoline is used in many industries, but long term exposure of gasoline may cause serious threats to public health. This threat, however, is not associated with its carcinogenic properties. The does, however, promote growth and development of cancer and dermatitis if it continuously contacts skin. In earlier years gasoline was widely used as treatment against lice, and thus has caused numerous occurrences of dermatitis and cancer. In addition, gasoline significantly pollutes air associated with engine exhaust. It produces such gases as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide.

Bibliography

1. Wikipedia contributors (2006). Nicotine. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 12, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine

2. Wikipedia contributors (2006). Benzene. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved February 12, 2006 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benzene
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