Carcinogens are considered particularly concerning because they:

Carcinogens are substances that can lead to cancer by causing changes or mutations in the DNA of living tissue. This is of particular concern because cancer can develop insidiously; it may take years or decades for the effects of carcinogen exposure to manifest as cancer, often without early warning signs. The direct relationship between carcinogen exposure and the initiation of cancer cells in tissues makes these agents particularly dangerous, as they can disrupt normal cellular processes.

While factors such as the prevalence of carcinogens in household products or their limited effect on certain populations may also warrant consideration in risk assessments, they do not fully encompass the primary reason for concern regarding carcinogens. Similarly, the notion that certain substances are easily eliminated from the body does not accurately reflect the persistent nature of many carcinogens, which can accumulate and cause harm over time. Thus, the specific ability of carcinogens to induce cancer formation is the most critical aspect of their threat to human health.