It is generally accepted that exposure to noxious chemicals is the single most important contributor to the incidence of human cancer. Invariably, exposure to such chemicals is through complex mixtures where it is often masked by the myriad of other materials present. In the majority of instances, exposure is frequently repeated, often over a lifetime. The consequence of this exposure is an interaction of the chemical with key biological macromolecules, usually DNA, resulting in biochemical changes that are, for the most part, unnoticed. Yet, such exposure, especially when cumulative, ultimately leads to a profound change in the behaviour of cells via a series of subtle and insidious events. At the point at which these chemical/environment‐mediated events give rise to cellular changes that can be detected (often the appearance of a lump), the damage has been done and the cancer is established. Defining how exposure to chemicals can lead to these complex biological events and ultimately to the development of neoplasia has been extremely important in our understanding of the aetiology of human cancer. This knowledge has aided and guided our approach to assessing the risk to such chemicals and has offered insights into how cancer can be avoided and treated.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.