carcinogen /kärsin″əjin/ [Gk, karkinos + genein, to produce] , a substance or agent that causes the development or increases the incidence of cancer. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes a biennial report that contains a list of all substances that either are known to be human carcinogens or may reasonably be anticipated to be human carcinogens. −carcinogenic, adj.
