HealthSeptember 1, 2026
carcinogenicity
kar-suh-nuh-JIN-uh-sih-tee
Definition
The ability or tendency of a substance or agent to cause cancer in living tissue.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek 'karkinos' (crab, from the shape of a tumor) and the Greek 'genesis' (origin or production). It entered English to describe the biological process of inducing cancer.
In the news
The article identifies carcinogenicity as a primary health concern among 1,222 chemicals found in food packaging. It highlights the need to identify such substances to prevent human exposure.
Food packaging chemicals of concern need group-based scrutiny, scientists urge
Read the full article ↗Packaging Insights