Carcinogenicity IARC classification

International, national, and state regulations and guidelines pertinent to human exposure to phenol are summarized in Table 7-1. The IARC classification for phenol is Group 3, not classifiable with regard to its carcinogenicity to humans (IARC 1989). 

Table 16.3 IARC classification scheme for human carcinogenicity...

A final item concerning epidemiology studies needs to be surfaced, if it is not already apparent. Inspection of the epidemiology data supporting the IARC classification of chemicals and chemical processes as carcinogenic shows they derive from studies of occupational exposures or medicines. Few environmental exposure situations have yielded... 

Below is the International Agencies for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenicity evidence classification ... 

IARC Carcinogenic classification Elemental lead and inorganic lead compounds Organolead Group 2Ba Group 3b IARC 1987... 

The EPA has determined that endrin is not classified as to its human carcinogenicity (Group D) because the available information is inadequate to allow the classification (IRIS 1995). No cancer classifications exist for the IARC (no adequate data) (IARC 1987). The National Toxicology Program (NIP) has assigned endrin the carcinogen code N (negative) (NTP 1995). 

In a former exhaustive review in 1984 carbon black was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) [4.50], an agency of the WHO, into category 3 Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans. This classification was confirmed in 1987. However, based on the results of the inhalation studies with rats, IARC [4.51] re-classified carbon black in 1995 in group 2B The agent is possibly carcinogenic to humans. The criteria applied are Inadequate evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in experimental animals. 

Only if strong evidence can be provided that the mechanism of carcinogenicity in rats does not operate in humans, a new re-classification of carbon black by IARC in group 3 might be possible. 

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified DEHP (44) as "an agent possibly carcinogenic to humans." However this classification is based only on the rodent studies and does not take into account the more recent understanding of the underlying mechanisms. 

Hygienists (ACGIH), International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and World Health Organization (WHO) have established guidelines on exposure and classifications of the carcinogenicity of arsenic. 

IARC Carcinogenic classification (aluminum production) Group 1a IARC 1984 IARC 1987... 

IARC Carcinogenic classification (2,3,7,8-TCDD) Group V IARC 1997... 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that DEHP may reasonably be anticipated to be a human carcinogen. EPA has determined that DEHP is a probable human carcinogen. These determinations were based entirely on liver cancer in rats and mice. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has recently changed its classification for DEHP from possibly carcinogenic to humans to cannot be classified as to its carcinogenicity to humans, because of the differences in how the livers of humans and primates respond to DEHP as compared with the livers of rats and mice. 

One TPH compound (benzene) has been shown to cause cancer (leukemia) in people. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that benzene is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1 classification). Some other TPH compounds or petroleum products, such as benzo(a)pyrene and gasoline, are considered to be probably and possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC Groups 2A and 2B, respectively) based on cancer studies in people and animals. Most of the other TPH compounds and products are considered not classifiable (Group 3) by IARC. See Chapter 6 for more information on how TPH can affect your body. 

---