What foods contain carcinogens and their effects on the human body. What are carcinogens and their classification What are carcinogens and what

Carcinogenic substances, depending on their ability to interact with DNA, are divided into two groups:

By origin, carcinogens can be:

Based on the nature of their action, carcinogens are divided into three groups:

Also, the classification of carcinogens can be made in accordance with the nature of the toxic substance:

• Chemical origin (aromatic hydrocarbons);
• Physical origin (ionizing radiation);
• Biological origin (hepatitis B virus).

Effect of carcinogen on warm-blooded animals

The complex mechanisms by which chemicals induce malignant growth are not yet fully understood, but there is evidence that there are four main stages of this process, starting from the moment of adequate exposure of the mammalian body (including humans) to the chemical carcinogen:

Some carcinogens appear to be responsible for only one step of this process and are not considered complete carcinogens. For example, many chemicals that interact with DNA and are therefore mutagens are likely to initiate this process as a result of primary DNA damage. These are the so-called initiators, and the damage they cause is usually irreversible.

Other compounds influence the expression and progression of the initial change in DNA and are called tumor growth enhancers. Some of these compounds do not interact with DNA, they are not mutagens and act as so-called tumor promoters. The third group includes chemicals known to be complete carcinogens; these substances appear to be capable of both initiation and promotion of malignant growth. All substances that cause DNA damage leading to mutations or cancer, including carcinogenesis initiators and full carcinogens, are considered genotoxic.

Carcinogens are the “parents” of cancer, what do we know about them? Why do they scare humanity so much, what is so scary about them? Let's try to figure it out.
Carcinogens are substances that cause the development and growth of malignant tumors. Many people do not know how common they are and how much they affect a person. Heavy metals and metalloids such as mercury, arsenic and lead; asbestos, aniline, sodium lauryl sulfate, benzene are all carcinogens. You need to know the enemy by sight - we’ll tell you more about them.

Heavy metals

Industrial wastewater and emissions, vehicle exhaust gases, pesticides and fertilizers entering water bodies along with agricultural runoff are all sources of heavy metals. Extremely toxic - these substances can accumulate in the body, causing poisoning and various mutations of internal organs. It is believed that most of them reach humans through food and inhalation.

Aniline, polyvinyl chloride, benzene - it’s impossible without them, but with them it’s worse. Plastic has firmly entered our lives, replacing natural materials. Products made from various types of plastic are cheaper, stronger, more durable... and, unfortunately, harmful. They are produced from the organic compounds listed above and are potentially a source of carcinogens.

Sodium lauryl sulfate

An indispensable “friend” of fashionistas and fashionistas, as well as any clean person, shampoo is the one you don’t feel threatened by. But the presence of sodium lauryl sulfate in most hair care products makes them called a carcinogen distributor. Reacting with the components included in the shampoo, this organic compound forms nitrates, which are carcinogens. By the way, about nitrates... With excessive use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers on agricultural land, accumulation of nitrates in the soil is observed. They subsequently enter the human body through food or water.

Aflatoxin

Mold affects cereals, flour, nuts, and oilseeds. The toxin of this fungus - aflatoxin - affects products, makes them bitter, and is not destroyed during thermal processing. Do not eat contaminated products - you will protect your health.

Yes - ordinary dust, sparkling so beautifully in the sun, a real curse of housewives. The ability of dust and soot to absorb carcinogenic compounds makes them the most dangerous enemies of humans. Ventilation and cleaning are the path to health that will protect you from cancer.

"Parent" of cancer

And finally, the main and most widely publicized source of carcinogens in the press is cigarettes. With each puff, the smoker and the people around him, in addition to nicotine, inhale soot, generously “seasoned” with lead, radium, arsenic, aromatic amines and other organic and inorganic “goodies” that contribute to the development of cancerous tumors.

The topic of killer carcinogens is inexhaustible; one article cannot cover it. Every day, doctors add to the list of substances, the accumulation of which in the body causes abnormal cell growth - cancer. Now you know more about them, and knowing the enemy in person, it is easier to fight for the health of yourself and your loved ones.

Despite numerous studies by scientists, the nature of cancer is still not fully understood, and the main reason why a healthy cell degenerates into a malignant one remains unclear. However, it has been established that 80–90% of human cases are caused by environmental factors and lifestyle factors.

Negative environmental factors, called carcinogens, lie in wait for us everywhere - they can be contained in water, food, the air of a home, work space, tobacco smoke, be part of perfumes and household chemicals, be in furniture and even children's toys.

According to the WHO definition, carcinogenic substances are agents that contribute to the occurrence or acceleration of the development of neoplasms, regardless of the mechanism of action and the degree of specificity of the effect. In other words, these are substances that increase the likelihood of cancer. Currently, about 1,000 carcinogens are known, belonging to different classes of chemical compounds. With the development of science and production, new chemical compounds with carcinogenic properties appear.

Knowledge of the compounds that people often encounter is important for carrying out preventive measures. The most dangerous carcinogenic substances that we encounter in everyday life are benzopyrene, formaldehyde, benzene, aflatoxins, and nitrosamines.

Benzopyrene

Benzopyrene is one of the most common and dangerous carcinogens belonging to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Like all PAHs, benzopyrene is largely a consequence of human activity, or more precisely, technological progress. It is formed during the combustion of liquid and solid organic substances at high temperatures (wood, petroleum products, anthropogenic waste). It is present in bodies of polluted water, in the air, in soot, mineral oils, tar, etc. Natural sources of benzopyrene are volcanic eruptions and forest fires.

Due to the technological features of the production of some food products, there is an acceptable level of benzopyrene - no more than 0.001 mg/kg. This applies to products using offal, sausages, lard, canned and preserved fish (including smoked fish), and food grain. Its presence in other food products is not allowed.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde (E 240, or formic aldehyde) is a very toxic colorless gas with a pungent odor, highly soluble in water and alcohol. Heavier than air, it polymerizes easily when heated. Formaldehyde is used in many industries in the production of plastics, paints, textiles, resins, MDF and chipboard in furniture shops, and is used in medicine, as a preservation agent, and for disinfection. Formaldehyde can also be found in children's toys made from various plastics.

Another source of formaldehyde is sweet carbonated water with the sweetener aspartame (all sugar). Aspartame (food additive E951), when broken down in the human body, forms phenylalanine, which is oxidized by liver enzymes to formaldehyde.

It has been proven that people who are constantly in contact with formaldehyde in production are at high risk of occupational poisoning and are much more likely to develop cancer, especially.

Benzene

Benzene is a toxic carcinogenic substance belonging to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It is widely used in industry, is a component of gasoline and crude oil, and serves as a raw material for the production of various plastics, synthetic rubber, medicines, and dyes. A huge amount of benzenes is contained in smoke smoke.

Benzene vapors can penetrate intact skin. With prolonged exposure to the human body, even small doses of benzene can have serious consequences. As a result of chronic poisoning, anemia and leukemia develop.

Aflatoxin

Aflatoxin (mold toxin) is a dangerous carcinogen. Fungi of some species of the genus Aspergillus, which produce toxin, develop mainly on grain crops, seeds and fruits with a high oil content (peanuts, sunflowers, soybeans, coffee, cocoa, corn). May affect flour, bran, and nuts. The fungus reproduces in hot and humid conditions. The toxin may also be present in the milk, eggs and meat of animals that have received food contaminated with the fungus. If stored improperly, aflatoxins also form in stale tea and medicinal herbs over time - this may be indicated by a white film when water is added.

The main danger of aflatoxin is that during heat treatment of products affected by the fungus, the toxin is not destroyed. And only by the bitter taste can one suspect its presence.

Aflatoxins affect almost all components of the cell, which leads to “metabolistic chaos” and, as a consequence, cell death. The liver is mainly affected.

Nitrosamines

Nitrosamines are one of the most dangerous carcinogenic substances, derivatives of nitrates and nitrites, which are not dangerous in themselves. Nitrosamines are found in small quantities in finished form in food products, feed additives, herbs, pesticides, air, and contaminated water. In addition, they enter the body with tobacco, medicines and cosmetics. Much larger quantities are synthesized in the body from nitrates and nitrites in the bladder, stomach, and intestines. Nitrites and nitrates are found in grains, root vegetables, and soft drinks. They are added as preservatives to meat, fish, and cheeses.

Nitrosamines have a negative effect on the kidneys, bladder, digestive organs, brain, nasal cavity and pharynx, causing cancer in them.

Popular foreign oncology clinics and centers

The Italian hospital in Haifa, Israel, diagnoses and treats almost all known forms of cancer, using the most advanced medical equipment: 3D computers for treatment planning, linear accelerators Simulator, Terapax, Cobalt and other equipment.

The University Hospital in the Swiss city of Zurich is ready to provide effective treatment for various oncological diseases, including lymphomas and leukemia. The clinic is equipped with the most advanced medical and diagnostic equipment, allowing us to solve the most complex problems of oncology.

“genes” - “giving birth, born”; hereinafter referred to as “K. c.") are blastomogenic substances, carcinogens, carcinogens, chemical compounds that, when exposed to the body, can cause other, as well as benign, neoplasms. Several hundred chemical compounds are known, belonging to different classes of chemical compounds. Thus, strong carcinogens include some polycyclic hydrocarbons with a phenanthrene group in the molecule, azo dyes, aromatic amines, nitrosamines and other alkylating compounds.

K.v. were found in the composition of some industrial products, in air polluted by industrial emissions, etc. The first ideas about the existence of carbon dioxide. date back to the 18th century, when cases of skin cancer among English chimney sweeps were linked to systematic contamination with coal tar and soot. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was possible to cause skin cancer in animals by smearing them with coal tar for many months. Subsequently, K. v. were isolated from the resin. - 3,4-benzpyrene and other polycyclic hydrocarbons. Before the introduction of appropriate preventive measures for those working in the aniline dye industry who were exposed to K. v. (beta-naphthylamine, benzidine, 4-aminodiphenyl), bladder cancer often occurred. Smokers get lung cancer more often than non-smokers, and residents of cities where air pollution is higher - more often than those living in rural areas.

The same carcinogenic substance, depending on the site of exposure, can cause tumors of different types and locations; a tumor of a certain type can be caused by various K. v. By the nature of the action, all K. v. can be divided into three groups:

• 1) local action;
• 2) organotropic, i.e. causing tumors not at the injection site, but in certain organs;
• 3) multiple actions, causing various tumors in different organs.

Effect of K. v. depends both on the dose and on the duration of their action; accumulation (deposition) in a tissue or organ enhances the effect of carcinogens. Neoplasms do not appear immediately after the onset of exposure to carbon dioxide, but only after a long period - 1/5 - 1/7 of the maximum life expectancy of a given organism (for a person this period can be 15 - 20 years, for a mouse - 4 - 6 months ). The development of a neoplasm is preceded by so-called precancerous (precancerous) changes (precancer).

The similarity of the chemical structure of carcinogenic hydrocarbons and many biologically active substances - sex hormones, bile acids and other steroids - suggested that disturbances in steroid metabolism can lead to the formation of blood cells. in the body itself; this assumption was subsequently confirmed experimentally. To such K. v. include, in addition to some products of impaired steroid metabolism, also some metabolites, such as tryptophan. The carcinogenic effect is associated with the chemical activity and electronic structure of a certain part of the carcinogenic molecule. (“region K”), responsible for the formation of complexes with certain cell components (apparently, nucleic acids and some). Many carcinogenic substances have a pronounced mutagenic effect (mutagenesis, mutagens), which cannot be ignored when considering the mechanisms of carcinogenesis under the influence of carcinogenesis.

Preventing the action of To. v. on the body is based on the study of their distribution in the human environment and implementation in the field of professional, communal and personal hygiene. In this regard, it is important to combat air, water and soil pollution from industrial emissions and prevent carcinogenic impurities in food products and drinking water. Identification of compounds with carcinogenic activity and their elimination from human life is an effective way to prevent tumors. (oncologist, academician of the USSR Academy of Medical Sciences Leon Manusovich Shabad)

Read more about carcinogens in the literature:

• Models and methods of experimental oncology, edited by Alexander Dmitrievich Timofeevsky, Moscow, 1960;
• Joseph Markovich Neiman, Fundamentals of Theoretical Oncology, M., 1961;
• Guide to general oncology, edited by Nikolai Nikolaevich Petrov, 2nd edition, Leningrad, 1961;
• L. M. Shabad, Endogenous blastomogenic substances, M., 1969;
• Leon Manusovich Shabad, Methods for studying the blastomogenicity of chemical substances, M., 1970.

Find something else interesting:

Carcinogens are certain factors that increase the likelihood of developing malignant tumors in humans. The rate of development of the pathological process depends on the state of people’s health, the duration of exposure to organic and inorganic substances or ionizing radiation. Carcinogens are found in small quantities in food and household chemicals; they are part of some pharmacological preparations. It will not be possible to completely protect yourself and your loved ones from compounds that provoke the development of cancer. But it is quite possible to reduce the amount of carcinogens in the environment, as well as minimize the consequences of contact with them.

Classification of carcinogens

The list of carcinogens includes several thousand substances of chemical and organic origin. Scientists were unable to collect them in one classification due to the lack of a unifying feature. Carcinogens were systematized as follows:

• according to the degree of effect on the human body: clearly carcinogenic, weakly carcinogenic, carcinogenic;
• according to the risk of developing oncology: compounds that are obtained at certain stages of technological processes with a high, medium and low probability of the formation of cancerous tumors, as well as substances whose carcinogenic properties are questioned;
• if possible, the formation of several tumors: under the influence of chemical compounds, a malignant neoplasm develops on a specific organ or in various parts of the human body;
• by time of tumor formation: carcinogens with local, remote-selective, systemic effects;
• by origin: carcinogenic substances that are produced in the human body or penetrated into it from the environment/

Chemical substances are also classified according to the nature of the pathological process they cause. One type of carcinogen changes the gene structure of the cell, while others do not affect the body at the gene level and provoke tumor growth in other ways. Compounds that affect DNA are especially dangerous - the natural death of cells is disrupted, they begin to divide uncontrollably. If this pathological process affects healthy tissue, then the person is subsequently diagnosed with a benign tumor. But when defective, damaged cells divide, there is a high probability of a malignant tumor appearing.

Types of carcinogens

Carcinogenic substances are not only chemical compounds that are produced by various industries. They are found in food, plants, and are produced by viruses and bacteria.. Long-term exposure to substances hazardous to the body leads to the formation of tumors not only in humans, but also in animals.

Carcinogens are part of natural substances that, when consumed correctly, are very beneficial to health. But as soon as you exceed the dosage recommended by the doctor or the duration of treatment, a favorable environment for the division of cancer cells is immediately created. Such compounds include the well-known birch tar, widely used in folk medicine.

To have a good understanding of the types of carcinogens, you should understand why these compounds are dangerous. First of all, you need to pay attention to food additives, medicines, insecticides and plant growth accelerators. That is, something without which it is difficult to imagine the life of a modern person.

Natural carcinogens

This term combines factors and hazardous substances that are always present in the environment. Their appearance was in no way influenced by man. The main cause of most diagnosed cases of skin cancer is solar radiation, or ultraviolet radiation. Doctors never tire of warning about the dangers of tanning. In an effort to acquire a beautiful chocolate skin tone, women and men spend a lot of time on the beach or in the solarium. Under the influence of sunlight, a pathological process of cell division with an altered gene structure can begin in all layers of the epidermis.

Sunbathers are 5-6 times more likely to develop cancer. People with fair skin living in northern latitudes should be especially careful.

Radon is one of the most dangerous compounds for the human body.. It is an inert gas found in the earth's crust and building materials. The risk of developing cancer is higher in people who live on the first floors of high-rise buildings. Significant levels of radon have been noted by experts in houses located in rural areas. In such buildings there is an underground or cellar, that is, there is no protection against inert gas. Radon is also found:

• in tap water that comes from an artesian well located on a piece of land with a high radon content;
• in natural gas burned for space heating or cooking.

If the house or apartment has poor sealing and no ventilation, then the concentration of radon in the surrounding area is high. This situation is typical for northern latitudes, where the heating season lasts most of the year.

Carcinogenic effects on the human body are caused by:

• hormones produced by the endocrine glands: prolactin and estrogens;
• tyrosine, tryptophan, bile acids, which are in the form of metabolites;
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contained in brown and hard coal or formed during the burning of forests.

Experts include some viruses as biological compounds whose carcinogenic effects are still being studied. They cause the development of severe liver diseases - hepatitis B and C.

The bacterium Helicobacter pylori cannot directly influence the formation of a cancerous tumor. But it can provoke gastric and duodenal ulcers, erosive and chronic gastritis. Doctors classify these diseases as precancerous conditions.

Anthropogenic carcinogens

The appearance of this type of hazardous substances in the environment was the result of human actions. The following carcinogenic factors are included in this category:

• compounds that are part of carbon monoxide and exhaust, as well as those contained in household or industrial soot;
• polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons released during the combustion of petroleum products, coal, and garbage;
• products remaining after wood or oil processing;
• formaldehyde resins that contain the smog of big cities.

Ionizing radiation is extremely dangerous for the human body.. Even in small doses, this carcinogenic factor causes radiation sickness in humans and causes radiation burns. Depending on their type, the rays penetrate various layers of the epidermis and provoke changes at the cellular level. Sources of ionizing radiation can enter the body through food or inhalation. Gamma rays are mortally dangerous to humans, from which only a thick layer of concrete or cement can protect.

Foods that cause cancer

When visiting stores, many people carefully read labels, trying to assess the carcinogenic effect of products. But manufacturers carefully hide food additives that can cause cancer. Incomprehensible capital letters with numerical designations remain a mystery to the average buyer. This is how compounds are encoded that increase the shelf life of products, improve their appearance and taste. The buyer, of course, realizes that natural milk cannot be stored for months. But finding a replacement for it on the supermarket counter is quite problematic - food additives are found in all dairy or fermented milk products.

A significant amount of nitrosamines is included in sausages and meat products. It is nitrites that give them an appetizing pink color and ensure a long shelf life. These chemical compounds, when directly exposed to the mucous membrane of the gastrointestinal tract, can provoke the formation of a cancerous tumor.

It should be kept in mind that, although unproven to be carcinogenic to humans, some food additives have been associated with cancer in animals. These are the well-known and frequently used saccharin and cyclamate. When purchasing, you should pay attention to the content of these sweeteners in curds and yoghurts.

Even healthy foods will become carcinogenic if they are fried in large quantities of any vegetable oil. Toxic compounds are found in the crispy, crispy crust:

• acrylamide;
• fatty acid metabolites;
• various aldehydes;
• benzopyrene

The effect of carcinogens on the human body is stronger, the longer the product is in the oil. This doesn't just apply to regular fried potatoes. Toxic compounds contained:

• in pies and donuts;
• in potato chips;
• in meat baked on coal.

Some cafes and eateries neglect the norms established by law and do not change the oil before preparing the next portion of food. In such chebureks and pies the concentration of carcinogens is so high that it can cause serious harm to health.

Coffee, which many people cannot imagine their life without, contains the substance acrylamide. Experts could not confirm the likelihood of tumor formation when drinking coffee. But the presence of the carcinogen acrylamide in its composition does not allow us to refute this possibility. Therefore, you should limit the number of cups of coffee to 4-5 per day.

Carcinogens in food are not only found as food additives, they can form there over time. Aflatoxin is especially dangerous to the human body. It is produced by mold fungi, the spores of which can be found in cereals, bran, nuts and flour. Products containing aflatoxin can be easily identified by their unusual bitter taste. The carcinogen is not destroyed by heat treatment and in large doses often causes the death of animals. In humans, aflatoxin can cause a malignant liver tumor.

The most dangerous carcinogens

There are many compounds in the environment that have a negative effect on the human body. But substances that people encounter in everyday life and at work pose a particular danger. Here is a list of carcinogens:

• Asbestos. A fine-fiber mineral from the silicate group is often used in construction work. If asbestos was used in the construction of residential premises, then the finest fibers may be present in their airspace. This carcinogen, after entering the body, causes the formation of malignant neoplasms of the lungs, larynx and stomach.
• Vinyl chloride. Contained in many types of plastic that are used in medicine. Consumer goods are made from it. Tumors of the lungs and liver are quite often diagnosed in workers of such enterprises.
• Benzene. The compound with prolonged contact provokes the formation of leukemia.
• Arsenic, nickel, chromium, cadmium. Derivatives of these compounds are found in exhaust gases. Carcinogens contribute to the development of prostate and bladder cancer.

Interesting fact: if potatoes are stored in a garage, they absorb carcinogens from exhaust gases. The medical literature describes cases of rectal cancer being diagnosed due to the use of pieces of newspaper as toilet paper.

How to get rid of carcinogens

Regular foods will help remove carcinogens from the body. They bind dangerous compounds using chemical reactions or simply absorb them on their surface. These products include:

• cabbage, carrots, beets and freshly squeezed juices from these vegetables;
• cereal porridges: buckwheat, oatmeal, rice;
• green tea, fermented milk products;
• dried fruit compote.

You should include cereals and vegetables in your daily diet. They are not only capable of removing carcinogens, but are also an excellent preventative against the formation of malignant neoplasms. You can cleanse the gastrointestinal tract of carcinogens accumulated on its mucous membrane using absorbents and enterosorbents (activated carbon, polysorb, smecta, lactofiltrum). A course of taking these pharmacological drugs will significantly reduce the negative impact of hazardous substances on the human body.