Alcohol and other Carcinogens Flashcards
What is alcohol?
Alcohol is a commonly used social drug that is poisonous to the liver but can usually be removed before it can cause permanent damage or kill. It is very addictive.
What are the results of alcohol?
The ethanol is absorbed into the blood from the cut and passes into the body tissue and brain. It affects the nervous system and slows thought processes, reflexes and reactions. In small doses, it can be relaxing and reduce inhibitions. In larger doses it causes a lack of self control and judgement.
What can addiction do to the brain and liver?
They may develop cirrhosis of the liver, a disease that destroys liver tissue and replaces it with useless scar tissue.
Increases the risk of liver cancer, which can spread rapidly.
Causes brain damage, making it soft and pulpy preventing it from functioning properly.
How does alcohol effect pregnancy?
If a pregnant person drinks alcohol it passes through the placenta into the fetus. The developing liver cannot handle the alcohol so development is badly effected.
This can cause facial deformities, hearing impairment, kidney, liver and heart problems as well as complications at birth. This is called fetal alcohol syndrome.
What is ionising radiation?
Ionising radiation is a form of electromagnetic wave and a well known carcinogen.
What are the sources of ionising radiation?
Radioactive materials
Ultraviolet light from the sun
Medical and Dental X-Rays
Accidents in nuclear power generators.
What can ionising radiation cause?
Ionising radiation penetrates the cells and damages the chromosomes, causing mutations in DNA.
