ENVIRONMENTAL AND ANTHROPOGENIC CARCINOGENS AND THEIR CARCINOGENIC EFFECTS ON HUMANS

Aruna Sharma1, Dharma Kishore1, Bhawani Singh 2,*

Aruna Sharma1, Dharma Kishore1, Bhawani Singh 2,* 1Department of Chemistry, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali (Rajasthan)-304022, India 2Department of Pure & Applied Chemistry, University of Kota, Kota (Rajasthan)-324005, India

Abstract

The review describes the environmental and anthropogenic carcinogens and their carcinogenicity. Environmental and anthropogenic carcinogens can be chemicals (exposed from chemical industries, alcoholic beverages, welding and wood dust, etc.), radiations (UV-rays, X-rays, γ-rays, radon, neutron, thorium, etc.), microbiological agents (viruses and bacterial infections), and natural products (tobacco, nicotine, areca nut, yerba mate, safrole, cycasin, etc.). Diet related factors (heterocyclic amines, saccharine, cyclamate, etc.) are through to account for about 30-35% of cancers in developing and developed countries. Obesity may raise incidence of cancer in the oesophagus, breast, colorectum, endometrium, and kidney. Key words: Carcinogens, environmental and anthropogenic carcinogens, chemotherapy, harmone therapy. Abbreviations: International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH), 2-Amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) 2-Amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimiazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), 2-Amino3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx).