Tag: Carcinogen

According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), the primary sources of furan exposure for children include milk-based products, fruit juices, and cereal-based products. This highlights the need to understand what furan does to the body and the potential health implications of this common food contaminant.

First introduced into therapy in 1887, phenacetin was a widely used pain-relieving and fever-reducing drug for nearly a century before being banned [1.2.1, 1.6.3]. So, what does phenacetin do that led to its rise and dramatic fall from grace?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) as a probable human carcinogen, based on evidence from animal studies. It is a toxic chemical that has garnered significant public attention due to its detection as an impurity in several common medications, leaving many to wonder what NDMA does to your body.

According to safety data, valganciclovir is classified as a potential human teratogen and carcinogen. This necessitates that strict safety protocols be followed to minimize exposure for both the patient and caregivers when handling valganciclovir, especially if tablets are broken or the oral solution is being prepared.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) officially classifies cyclosporine as a hazardous drug due to its potent and serious toxicities. The reasons why is cyclosporine a hazardous drug include its carcinogenic, genotoxic, and reproductive risks, in addition to its severe potential for organ damage.

Puromycin is a powerful antibiotic produced by the bacterium *Streptomyces alboniger*, but its clinical use in humans is prohibited due to high systemic toxicity and poor selectivity. Knowing whether puromycin is toxic to humans is vital for laboratory safety and understanding the serious health hazards associated with exposure.

In April 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took the historic step of requesting the immediate market withdrawal of all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine products, commonly known by the brand name Zantac. This definitive action was prompted by growing evidence that the drug was contaminated with a probable human carcinogen called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA).

In the United States, gentian violet is no longer available as a standard drug for human use, with some manufacturers voluntarily discontinuing sales and its monograph no longer updated. This is due to long-standing safety concerns and regulatory actions by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which has officially banned its use in animal feed and certain veterinary drugs since the 1990s.

Since 2018, regulatory bodies like the FDA have overseen recalls of numerous medications contaminated with N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA. However, there is no single drug name for NDMA, as it is not an active ingredient but an impurity with probable carcinogenic properties.

Introduced in 1887, phenacetin was once a widely used pain and fever reducer but was eventually withdrawn from markets worldwide due to its toxic effects. Understanding **what is phenacetin** reveals a cautionary tale of drug development, where a potent remedy was eventually eclipsed by its severe, long-term health consequences, leading to its replacement by safer alternatives like acetaminophen.