Is nicotine considered a carcinogen?

Nicotine is not classified as a carcinogen by major health authorities, such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). While nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in tobacco products, its role in cancer development is not direct—unlike other chemicals in tobacco smoke that are well-established carcinogens.

Nicotine does have various harmful effects on health, including promoting tumor growth and facilitating the spread of cancer cells, but it doesn't cause cancer on its own. This distinction is important in understanding tobacco's health impacts; although nicotine is a significant factor in tobacco dependency, it does not fit the strict definition of a carcinogen in the way that many other substances related to tobacco do. Therefore, stating that nicotine is not a carcinogen aligns with current scientific consensus and guidelines.