Lung cancer carcinogens

Djordjevic, M.V, S.D. Stellman, and E. Zang Doses of nicotine and lung cancer carcinogens delivered to cigarette smokers J. Natl. Cancer Inst. 92 (2000) 106-111 Dobbins, J.T. Jr Elution column preparation of leaf samples for flame photometry. I. Determination of potassium in tobacco J. Assoc. Off. Agr. Chem. 44 (1961) 360-365. 

Inhalation of radon can lead to lung cancer. Carcinogenic potential may increase by smoking. 

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have been classified as human carcinogens because they induce cancers in experimental animals and because smoking and exposure to mixtures of chemicals containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the workplace increase the risk of lung cancer in exposed individuals. In experimental animals, benzo(a)pyrene induces cancer in different organs depending on the route of administration.Furthermore, exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons commonly occurs in occupations related to traffic (use of diesel engines in transportation and railways). 

Certain compounds of this type are potent carcinogens. One of the most dangerous is benzo[a]pyrene, which has been detected in cigarette smoke. It is believed to be a cause of lung cancer, to which smokers are susceptible. 

The involvement of tobacco smoke carcinogens in the aetiology of lung cancer is conclusively established, but the role of specific chemical carcinogens as inducers of colorectal cancer is much less clear. Mutagenic pyrolysis products derived from cooked food have come under suspicion as possible... 

CHUNG F L (1999) The prevention of lung cancer induced by a tobacco-specific carcinogen in rodents by green and black tea , Proc Soc Exp Biol Med, 220 (4), 244-8. 

Le Marchand, L., Sivaraman, L. et al. (1998). Associations of CYP1A1, GSTM1, and CYP2E1 polymorphisms with lung cancer suggest cell type specificities to tobacco carcinogens. Cancer Res., 58(21), 4858-63. 

In order to establish a causal relationship rather than a pure association between the suspected carcinogen Rn-d and the induced effect lung cancer it is most important to know the individual Rn-d exposure. This is the particular weakness of all these studies since these measurements were not carried out fifteen to thirty years ago, this essential information cannot be provided by any of the available retrospective studies with a sufficient degree of reliability and accuracy (Steinhausler, in press). Therefore they have to rely on indirect estimation of past Rn-d exposure levels, using e.g. inference from uranium ore content. 

Laboratory studies with mice and rats have conclusively demonstrated that the injection of cadmium metal or salts causes malignancies (sarcoma) at the site of injection and testicular tumors. However, the simultaneous administration of zinc is protective against sarcoma and interstitial cell tumor development (USEPA 1980). In rats, no dose-related increases in tumors were found at maximum oral daily doses of 4.4 mg Cd/kg BW (USPHS 1993). Among humans, the available epidemiological evidence is not sufficient to conclude that cadmium is definitely implicated as a carcinogen (USEPA 1980 Nomiyama 1982), although cadmium exposure is associated with lung cancer in humans (Shimada et al. 1998). 

Cigarette smoking is responsible for about 80% of lung cancer cases. Other risk factors include exposure to respiratory carcinogens (e.g., asbestos, benzene), genetic risk factors, and history of other lung diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, pulmonary fibrosis). 

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