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COMPLEX MIXTURES OF CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS: PRINCIPLES OF ACTION AND HUMAN CANCER
Citation:
Nesnow, S. C. COMPLEX MIXTURES OF CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS: PRINCIPLES OF ACTION AND HUMAN CANCER. Chapter 14, D. Warshawsky and J. Landolph (ed.), Molecular Carcinogenesis and the Molecular Biology of Human Cancer. CRC Press LLC, Boca Raton, FL, , 303-318, (2006).
Impact/Purpose:
To summarize the major findings on the carcinogenic effects of complex environmental mixtures and discuss mixture interactions as they pertain to chemical carcinogenesis.
Description:
There is strong epidemiological evidence supported by experimental animal data that complex environmental mixtures pose a risk to human health producing increases in cancer incidence. Understanding the chemical and biological properties of these mixtures leads to a clearer understanding of the principles inherent in their carcinogenic activities. Rarely are humans exposed to single toxic agents in the environment. Not only are humans exposed to complex mixtures containing multiple carcinogens, but this exposure can come from multiple sources (e.g. vehicle exhaust fumes and water disinfection byproducts) and by multiple routes (inhalation, oral, dermal). Many of the agents known to be carcinogenic are found in the air, water, and diet. Pharmaceutical exposures combined with those chemicals found in the environment may also have adverse health effects. Within each exposure source, there may be many agents that either directly or indirectly affect the induction, promotion and progression of cancer. Interactions of non-carcinogens with carcinogens may enhance or inhibit the ultimate tumor response. This chapter will focus on and summarize the major findings on the carcinogenic effects of complex environmental mixtures and will discuss mixture interactions as they pertain to chemical carcinogenesis.