Environmental Toxicology and Health

Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis

A mutagen is a substance or agent that induces a heritable change in cells or organisms. A carcinogen is a substance that induces unregulated growth processes in cells or tissues of multicellular animals, leading to the disease called cancer. Mutagenesis refers to processes that result in genetic change, and carcinogenesis (the processes of tumor development) may result from mutagenic events. Carcinogenesis is a process where uncontrolled cell division occurs leading to the formation of a malignant tumor. Mutagenesis is a process characterized by a change in the genetic material of an organism by the influence of mutagens. Mutagenesis can occur naturally and leads to cancer.