Definition
Capable of causing cancer. A suspected carcinogen is a substance that may cause cancer in humans or animals but for which the evidence is not conclusive.
See also:
Acute Effect
An adverse effect on any living organism in which severe symptoms develop rapidly and often subside after the exposure stops.
Acute Toxicity
Adverse effects that result from a single dose or single exposure of a chemical; any poisonous effect produced within a short period of time, usually less than 96 hours. This term normally is used to describe effects in experimental animals.
Chronic Effect
An adverse effect on any living organism in which symptoms develop slowly over a long period of time or recur frequently.
Mesothelioma
A rare and aggressive cancer affecting the mesothelium (protective lining of lungs, abdomen, or heart), primarily caused by asbestos exposure. The disease typically develops 20-50 years after exposure, making early detection difficult. Pleural mesothelioma (affecting the lung lining) is the most common form. There is no cure, and prognosis is generally poor, though treatments can extend survival and improve quality of life.