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| Cancer |
| | An uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, creating a tumor that can invade surrounding tissues and may spread (metastasis) to distant organs. |
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| Cancer Slope Factor |
| | A key risk assessment parameter derived by the EPA. It is an estimate of the probability that an individual will develop cancer if exposed to a specified amount of chemical (mg/kg) every day for a lifetime. |
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| Carcinogen |
| | A compound which is capable of causing cancer. |
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| Carcinogenic |
| | The ability of a substance to cause cancer. |
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| Carcinogenicity |
| | The complex process whereby normal body cells are transformed to cancer cells. |
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| Case-Control Study |
| | A type of
epidemiology study to investigate the cause of the toxicity. It compares the exposure histories of humans who have a particular toxic effect with that of normal individuals. |
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| Ceiling Level |
| | The maximum allowable concentration of a chemical in the workplace for a specific period of time (usually 15 minutes). |
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| Cell Transformation |
| | The change of a cell from one form to another. The term is generally used to denote the change from normal to malignant. |
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| Cholinergic Effect |
| | Neurological effects resulting from the transmission by acetylcholine of impulses across synaptic junctions between nerves. |
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| Cholestasis |
| | A liver condition in which excretion of bile salts via the bile duct is inhibited resulting in bile salts backing up into liver cells. |
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| Chromatography |
| | An analytic method to separate and identify the components of a complex mixture by the differential movement through a two-phase system. The movement is effected by a flow of a liquid or a gas (mobile) phase, based on the physicochemical principles of adsorption, partition, ion exchange, exclusion, or a combination of these principles. |
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| Chromosome |
| | One of a group of structures that form in the nucleus of a cell during cell division. Chromosomes, bearing the DNA, carry the genetic code for the organism. |
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| Chromosome Aberration |
| | Changes in chromosome structure. |
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| Chronic Dose |
| | Substance administered or received gradually over a long period of time (months to years). |
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| Chronic Effect |
| | An effect that either shows up a long time after an exposure (the latency period) or an effect that results from a long term (chronic) exposure. |
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| Cirrhosis |
| | A chronic condition of the liver in which liver cells are replaced by fibrous cells. |
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| CNS |
| | The central nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord. |
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| Cohort Study |
| | An
epidemiology study in which a cohort (group) of individuals with exposure to a chemical and a cohort without exposure are followed over time to compare disease occurrence. |
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| Conjugation |
| | A metabolic process in which chemical groups are attached to foreign substances in the body, usually making the conjugated chemical more water soluble and easier to eliminate from the body. |
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| Control Group |
| | A group of animals or humans in a study that are treated the same as the exposed groups but without receiving the specific exposure. |
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| Cornea |
| | The transparent front surface of the eye. |
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| Corrosion |
| | Direct chemical action that results in irreversible damage at the site of contact. It is manifested by ulceration, necrosis, and scar formation. |
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| Covalent Bond |
| | The joining together of atoms that results from sharing electrons. |
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| CPSC |
| | Consumer Product Safety Commission. It is a federal agency responsible for protecting the public from toxins and other hazards present in consumer products. |
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| Cross-Sectional Study |
| | A type of
epidemiology study that tests for the prevalence of a disease or clinical parameter among one or more exposed groups (e.g., the prevalence of respiratory conditions among furniture makers). |
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