A carcinogen is something that could cause cancer, and while you may come in contact with carcinogens every day, that doesn’t mean you’ll get cancer. Some common carcinogens include tobacco, ultraviolet rays and alcohol, which we know can lead to lung, skin and liver cancer. There are also carcinogens in things you might not think about like processed meats. Researchers found that eating a certain amount of processed meat every day—the equivalent of about 4 strips of bacon or 1 hot dog—increased the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 percent. Learn more about cancer-causing carcinogens.
