world cancer report - iarc

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