How can such chemical substances give us cancer ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Pattielli
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Cancer Chemical
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on how certain chemical substances, particularly radioactive materials, can lead to cancer. Participants explore the mechanisms of DNA/RNA damage caused by ionizing radiation and the implications of such damage on cellular behavior and cancer development.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about the mechanisms by which chemical substances cause cancer, specifically asking for details on their actions.
  • Another participant explains that radioactive materials cause cancer by damaging DNA/RNA through ionizing radiation, which includes UV, X-Rays, and gamma rays.
  • A follow-up post questions the uncontrollable nature of cell growth after DNA/RNA damage and seeks clarification on which ionizing materials are commonly present in the environment.
  • One participant asserts that most cells damaged by radiation die, but some survive with damaged genetic material, potentially leading to cancerous growth due to loss of growth control mechanisms.
  • A repeated post reiterates the same point about the fate of cells damaged by radiation and the development of cancerous cells.
  • A link to a Wikipedia page about radioactivity is provided for further reading.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express varying levels of understanding about the mechanisms of cancer development related to radiation, with some points being clarified while others remain open to further exploration. There is no consensus on all aspects of the discussion, particularly regarding the specifics of uncontrollable cell growth and the types of ionizing materials present.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about cellular behavior and the effects of radiation that are not fully explored or defined. There are unresolved questions regarding the specifics of ionizing materials and their prevalence.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals seeking to understand the relationship between chemical substances, radiation, and cancer, particularly in the context of health and environmental science.

Pattielli
Messages
296
Reaction score
0
can you tell me how can such chemical substances give us cancer ? What do they do in actuality ?

Thanks
 
Engineering news on Phys.org
Radioactive materials give you cancer by literally breaking your dna/rna. Radiation strong enough to do this is called "ionizing radiation." UV, X-Rays, and Gamma rays (electromagnetic radiation - like light) are ionizing, as are particle radiation (alpha, beta, gamma particles).
 
Thanks for your reply,
Cells have a lot of functions and spend many phases to 'create' or be created new ones and 'kill' themselves...So, when their DNAs/RNAs get damaged, there is no inheritance anymore but they can still create and this time in an uncontrollable way...
Is my assumption correct ?
If so, can you please tell me why they are uncontrollable ?
Secondly, do you know which ionizing materials are all around us ?

I made such questions to learn more about this, I know some cancer patients, some are old, some are really young, no-way-for-a-rescue disease, right ? This is just a curiosity of mine-way of broadening my mind a little bit...

Thanks a lot,
 
Most cells damaged by radiation simply die. A few are mangled in such a way that they continue to live, but now have damaged genetic material. Sometimes the damaged genetic material permits the cell to get around at least one of the mechanisms that control growth -- that's a cancerous cell.

- Warren
 
chroot said:
Most cells damaged by radiation simply die. A few are mangled in such a way that they continue to live, but now have damaged genetic material. Sometimes the damaged genetic material permits the cell to get around at least one of the mechanisms that control growth -- that's a cancerous cell.

- Warren
Thanks Warren,

-Patt
 

Similar threads

PFAS and Power Lines Cause Cancer?
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
10K
Does G10 Material in Pocket Knives Pose a Cancer Risk?
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
High School Two/three photon absorption chemical substance producing photons for electricity generation
  • · Replies 0 ·
Replies
0
Views
753
How many mSv of radiation would a bolt of ionized plasma deliver?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
Remove cancer with centrifugal forces?
  • · Replies 22 ·
Replies
22
Views
4K
Would Products Manufactured in U.S. be Safe from Carcinogens?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
Undergrad Spectrometer of James Webb Space Telescope
  • · Replies 9 ·
Replies
9
Views
535
Most dangerous chemicals?
  • · Replies 46 ·
2
Replies
46
Views
6K
Chemical Garden, deeper conceptual explanation
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
Help with chemical potential formula in a mixture
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
3K