7.5 Alcohol and other carcinogens

Question 1

Define a carcinogen?

Answer 1

something (agent) that increases risk of cancer developing

Question 2

Name the four different carcinogen?

Answer 2

• tar from cigarette smoke,
• sunlight,
• X‑rays,
• alcohol.

Question 3

Suggest reason for an increase in alcohol-related deaths?

Answer 3

• drinking more socially acceptable and therefore more common,
• cost of alcohol lower/incomes higher,
• younger people drinking,
• people drinking more at a time (binge drinking),
• more people addicted to alcohol.

Question 4

Explain why you think alcohol remains a legal drug when it causes so many deaths?

Answer 4

Points may include:
• very popular,
• part of culture,
• generates revenue for government,
• enjoyed by many sensibly,
• hard to change legal status after so many years,
• many people in authority use alcohol themselves,
• prohibition tried and failed (led to criminal activity).

Question 5

Alcohol can damage the liver and cause …………..

Answer 5

cirrhosis and liver cancer

Question 6

What are sources of ionising radiation?

Answer 6

• ultraviolet light from the sun
• radioactive material found in the soil, water and air
• medical and dental xrays
• accidents in nucleur power generation