Prolonged exposure to contaminants and carcinogens increases the risk of developing cancer. Carcinogens can be described as chemicals or compounds that may cause cancer. Most carcinogens damage the DNA composition and accelerate cell division, reducing the chances of cell repair. Such carcinogens are known as mutagens since they affect the cells’ biological, physical, and chemical composition. Not all carcinogens damage the DNA. Some of them only increase the rapid cell multiplication, enhancing the probability of future mutation. Benzene and benzo [a] pyrene are found in cigarette smoke and some foods like processed meat. These carcinogens are linked to lung and blood-related cancers and have different properties and impact on human cells, tissue, and organs.
Search Strategy
The search strategy entailed entering the keywords into the Columbia Southern Unversity Online Library. Clicking on the scholarly or peer-reviewed check box ensured that the search results would give credible sources. The search results were filtered by ensuring their publication date was between 2016 and 2021. This approach enhanced access to recently published peer-reviewed journals. In the search field, the word “benzo [a] pyrene” and “cancer” brought results that featured journals that discussed the impact of benzo [a] pyrene on human cells and tissues. The same strategy was used when searching for articles that discussed the relationship between benzene and cancer. An analysis of the abstract of the articles was conducted to determine each article's relevance to the topic. Two articles were selected for each carcinogen.
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Results of the Articles
Benzo [a] pyrene (BaP) and benzene are among the common carcinogens. Unlike benzene, BaP possesses mutagenic properties. BaP is present in foods such as cooked meats and cereals and in environments that contain smoke from the combustion of organic materials like cigarettes (Malik et al., 2018). The high concentration of BaP in cigarette smoke is associated with lung cancer. Like BaP, benzene is also present in cigarette smoke, but it does not alter the smokers’ DNA composition. Benzene is a colorless liquid material used in the printing, chemical, and drug industries (Mungi et al., 2019). It is a significant component in rubbers, lubricants, pesticides, and detergents. For this reason, air pollution from industrial sites exposes people to benzene. According to a recent study, people living in areas that have high vehicular traffic and gas stations are likely to be exposed to benzene (Salemi et al., 2017). Like benzene, exposure to BaP is by inhalation. The difference between the two chemicals is that one can also absorb benzene via the skin. Another difference is that women who take processed at a high risk of being exposed to BaP (Malik et al., 2018). Benzene affects both men and women equally.
The chemical composition and impact of BaP and benzene on the human body are different. For example, BaP induces cellular acquisition of cancer-associated properties in the stem cells (Bak et al., 2018). In contrast, benzene does not alter the chromosomal composition. Bap causes cancer and alters the composition of cancer stem cells. BaP has detrimental effects among women since it acts as a genotoxic carcinogen, resulting in DNA damage (Bak et al., 2018). BaP causes biological responses that initiate and promote carcinogenesis. Inflammation from a diet, for instance, is among the key causative factors for the carcinogenic process. Benzene affects mostly the blood and lung.
Exposure to BaP and benzene is linked to different types of cancers. In women, BaP stimulates cytokines' production in the lungs leading to breast cancer (Malik et al., 2018). Processed meat contains BaP, which enhances the circulation of carcinogenic biomarkers in women. Along with the intake of a pro-inflammation diet, BaP elevates the risk of breast cancer. Since BaP is present in cigarette smoke, it is linked to lung cancer. BaP is a toxic component that induces mutations in about 60% of lung cancer cases annually (Bak et al., 2018). It affects and alters cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Exposure to BaP and benzene is linked to lung cancer. Unlike BaP, exposure to benzene causes blood-related and lip cancers (Mungi et al., 2019). People who work in rubber and chemical industries are at the highest risk of contracting blood-related cancers. Benzene may elevate the risk of cancer in different human tissues and organs. Its most toxic effects result in hematopoietic conditions such as leukemia and lymphoma (Salemi et al., 2017). While BaP and benzene cause cancer, they attack the human tissues and cells differently. BaP induces oxidative stress-related DNA alteration resulting in cancer initiation and progression.
Discussion
Environmental and geographical factors play a significant role in the etiology of cancers. Harmful habits such as excessive consumption of meat and smoking cigarettes predispose people to benzene and BaP. Despite the deadly effects of benzene and BaP, most are unaware of their exposure to these carcinogens. For example, people need to calculate their bodyweight and measure it against the recommended meat consumption to limit the exposure to BaP. Besides, a study on major cities and industrial sites can determine the benzene and BaP levels in the environment and cancer incidence rates.
Conclusion
Overall, BaP may have more adverse effects on the human body than benzene. Although it might be challenging to treat cancers, BaP is detrimental to the human organs since it alters the DNA, lung and breast cells, and lung cancer stem cells. Once the mutation starts, it may be challenging to stop cell growth. Besides, BaP is found in products that humans regularly consume, such as processed meat and cigarettes. Benzene is also a dangerous carcinogen since it is found in everyday substances such as pesticides and rubbers. Unlike BaP, the cell growth that benzene causes may be controlled in the early stages.
References
Bak, Y., Jang, H. J., Seo, J. H., No, S. H., Chae, J. I., Hong, J., & Yoon, D. Y. (2018). Benzo [a] pyrene alters the expression of genes in A549 lung cancer cells and cancer stem cells. Journal of Microbiology Biotechnology , 28 (3), 425-431.https://doi.org/10.4014/jmb.1712.12009
Malik, D., David, R. M., & Gooderham, N. J. (2018). Mechanistic evidence that benzo [a] pyrene promotes an inflammatory microenvironment that drives the metastatic potential of human mammary cells. Archives of Toxicology , 92 (10), 3223-3239. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-018-2291-z
Mungi, C., Lai, D., & Du, X. L. (2019). Spatial analysis of industrial benzene emissions and cancer incidence rates in Texas. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health , 16 (15), 2627. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16152627
Salemi, R., Marconi, A., Di Salvatore, V., Franco, S., Rapisarda, V., & Libra, M. (2017). Epigenetic alterations and occupational exposure to benzene, fibers, and heavy metals associated with tumor development. Molecular Medicine Reports , 15 (5), 3366-3371. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2017.6383
