world cancer report - iarc
world cancer report - iarc
world cancer report - iarc
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Agent Cancer site/<strong>cancer</strong> Main industry/use<br />
4-Aminobiphenyl Bladder Rubber manufacture<br />
Arsenic and arsenic compounds* Lung, skin Glass, metals, pesticides<br />
Asbestos Lung, pleura, peritoneum Insulation, filter material, textiles<br />
Benzene Leukaemia Solvent, fuel<br />
Benzidine Bladder Dye/pigment manufacture<br />
Beryllium and beryllium compounds Lung Aerospace industry/metals<br />
Bis(chloromethyl) ether Lung Chemical intermediate/by-product<br />
Cadmium and cadmium compounds Lung Dye/pigment manufacture<br />
Chloromethyl methyl ether Lung Chemical intermediate/by-product<br />
Chromium[VI] compounds Nasal cavity, lung Metal plating, dye/pigment manufacture<br />
Coal-tar pitches Skin, lung, bladder Building material, electrodes<br />
Coal-tars Skin, lung Fuel<br />
Ethylene oxide Leukaemia Chemical intermediate, sterilising agent<br />
Mineral oils, untreated and mildly-treated Skin Lubricants<br />
Mustard gas (sulfur mustard) Pharynx, lung War gas<br />
2-Naphthylamine Bladder Dye/pigment manufacture<br />
Nickel compounds Nasal cavity, lung Metallurgy, alloys, catalyst<br />
Shale-oils Skin Lubricants, fuels<br />
Silica, crystalline Lung Stone cutting, mining, foundries<br />
Soots Skin, lung Pigments<br />
Strong-inorganic-acid mists containing sulfuric acid Larynx, lung Metal, batteries<br />
Talc containing asbestiform fibres Lung Paper, paints<br />
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin (TCDD) Several organs Contaminant<br />
Vinyl chloride Liver Plastics monomer<br />
Wood dust Nasal cavity Wood industry<br />
* This evaluation applies to the group of chemicals as a whole<br />
and not necessarily to all individual chemicals within the group.<br />
Table 2.7 Chemicals classified as human carcinogens (IARC Group 1) for which exposures are mostly occupational.<br />
humans, e.g. acetaldehyde, dichloromethane,<br />
inorganic lead compounds. For<br />
the majority of these chemicals, evidence<br />
of carcinogenicity comes from<br />
studies in experimental animals, and evi-<br />
Fig. 2.18 Angiosarcoma of the liver caused by<br />
occupational exposure to vinyl chloride. The<br />
tumour is characterized by proliferation of vessellike<br />
structures, lined by malignant, highly atypical<br />
endothelial cells.<br />
34 The causes of <strong>cancer</strong><br />
dence of a carcinogenic outcome in<br />
humans is often lacking because human<br />
exposure occurs at the same time as<br />
exposure to many other agents, or for<br />
some other reason.<br />
A number of industries and occupations<br />
have been subject to evaluation within<br />
the Monographs programme (Table 2.9).<br />
In some instances (e.g. wood dust in the<br />
wood industry), the agent(s) responsible<br />
for an increased risk of <strong>cancer</strong> is (are)<br />
well established, while in other cases<br />
(e.g. employment as a painter or in the<br />
rubber industry), an increased risk of<br />
<strong>cancer</strong> has been established, but no<br />
precise carcinogen has been identified.<br />
Furthermore, there are several agents<br />
known or suspected to cause <strong>cancer</strong> in<br />
humans to which humans are incidentally<br />
exposed in an occupational context<br />
(Table 2.10). Occupational exposure to<br />
pharmaceutical drugs known or suspected<br />
to be carcinogenic can occur in<br />
pharmacies and during the administration<br />
of these drugs to patients by nursing<br />
staff (Medicinal drugs, p48).<br />
Hospital workers can be exposed to<br />
hepatitis B virus, food processors<br />
exposed to aflatoxins from contaminated<br />
foodstuff, outdoor workers exposed<br />
to ultraviolet radiation or diesel engine<br />
exhaust fumes and bar staff or waiters<br />
exposed to environmental tobacco<br />
smoke.<br />
Current understanding of the relationship<br />
between occupational exposures<br />
and <strong>cancer</strong> is far from complete. For<br />
many chemicals known to cause <strong>cancer</strong><br />
in experimental animals, no definitive<br />
evidence is available concerning route<br />
or extent of workplace exposure.<br />
Constructing and interpreting lists of