7.5 Alcohol And Other Carcinogens

Question 1

What happens after you drink alcohol

Answer 1

• ethanol is absorbed into the blood from the gut and passes easily into body tissues including the brain
• it affects the nervous system, making thought processes, reflexes and reactions slower than normal
• in small amounts alcohol makes people feel relaxed, cheerful and reduces inhibitions
• if the dose is too high, it can lead to unconsciousness, coma and death

Question 2

How does alcohol cause liver damage

Answer 2

• they may develop cirrhosis of the liver, a disease that destroys liver tissue
• the active liver cells are replaced with scar tissue that cannot carry out vital functions
• alcohol is a carcinogen so heavy drinkers are at increased risk of developing liver cancer. This spreads rapidly and is difficult to treat

Question 3

How does long term heavy alcohol use cause brain damage

Answer 3

brain becomes so soft and pulpy that the normal brain structures are lost and it can no longer function properly. This can cause death

Question 4

What can drinking during pregnancy lead to

Answer 4

• if a pregnant woman drinks, it passes across the placenta into the developing baby
• miscarriage, stillbirths, premature births, low birthweight babies are risks
• developing liver cannot cope, so development of brain and body of foetus can be badly affected

Question 5

What is fetal alchohol syndrome (FAS)

Answer 5

When a baby may have facial deformities, problems with its teeth, jaw or hearing, kidney, liver and heart problems or learning and developmental problems due to drinking alcohol during pregnancy

Question 6

How is ionising radiation dangerous

Answer 6

• ionising radiation ion the form of different types of electromagnetic waves is a carcinogens
• eg radiation: penetrates the cells and damages the chromosomes, causing mutations in the DNA. The more you are exposed, the more likely it is that these mutations occur and cancer develops

Question 7

What are sources of ionising radiation

Answer 7

• ultraviolet light from the sun (increases risk of skin cancers such as melanoma)
• radioactive materials found in soil water and air (including radon gas in granite-rich areas such as Cornwall)
• medical and dental X-rays
• accidents in nuclear power generation (Chernobyl)