what is a carcinogen
/carÂ·cinÂ·oÂ·gen/ (kahr-sinÂ´ah-jen) any substance which causes cancer.carcinogenÂ´ic. epigenetic carcinogen one that does not itself damage DNA but causes alterations that predispose to cancer. genotoxic carcinogen one that reacts directly with DNA or with macromolecules that then react with DNA.