From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcarcinogencar‧cin‧o‧gen /kɑːˈsɪnədʒən $ kɑːr-/ noun [countable] medical MIa substance that can cause cancer
Examples from the Corpus
carcinogen• Cadmium is a carcinogen that can also damage the kidneys.• Extracts from both petrol and diesel exhausts contain carcinogens.• Many more carcinogens have been identified since then.• And officials of federal, international and California agencies regard it as a potential or probable carcinogen.• The specific carcinogens, however, that cause the colorectal cancers in humans remain unknown.• Chipboard and other pressed wood products are made with a resin containing formaldehyde, an irritant and suspected carcinogen.• Indeed, asbestos is a prime example of how marginal exposure to carcinogens does not cause disease. 