Carcinogenic means which of the following?

• A. Protective against cancer
• B. Not related to cancer
• C. Cancer-causing
• D. Found only in plants

Answer: (C)

Carcinogenic describes something that can cause cancer. It refers to agents or exposures that have the potential to initiate or promote cancer development by damaging DNA or altering normal cellular processes. This is not about being protective, unrelated to cancer, or limited to plants. In real-world terms, substances like tobacco smoke, certain industrial chemicals, and some forms of radiation are carcinogenic, meaning they increase the risk of cancer with exposure. Understanding this helps explain how a decedent might have been exposed to cancer-causing factors and how those exposures could relate to the cause or contributing factors of death.