Substances and Carcinogenicity

The following pages provide, in brief, lists of known carcinogens, suspected carcinogens, and probable carcinogens. Proper use and careful management of chemical substances protect human health and safety and the living environment. 

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Gasification of Leather Offal. Chrome-leather tanning scraps or offal are a waste product of the tanning and leather industries. These wastes are usually the result of trimming operations and contain 3.5 wt % chromium and about 50 wt % water. The wastes cannot be incinerated because malodorous substances and carcinogenic chromium-containing particulates are formed. Landfill disposal is presently used. 

Table 2.1 lists some well-known toxic substances and carcinogenic agents. 

Table 2.1 Some common toxic substances and carcinogens in humans ...

In the United States, the Clean Air Act of 1990 requires plants to reduce emissions of 189 toxic and carcinogenic substances such as chlorine, chloroform, and 2,3,7,8-TCDD (dioxin) by 90% over the 1990s. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is working to develop standards based on maximum achievable control technologies and the industry has invested bUHons of doUars in capital investments to retrofit or rebuUd plant equipment to meet these measures. 

Health and Safety Factors. MSA is a strong toxic acid and is corrosive to skin. The acute oral toxicity of the sodium salt in mice LD q is 6.2 g/kg. The 1976 edition of the NIOSH Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances Hsts certain reaction products of MSA as having suspected mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic activity (410). 

Table 5.15 Substances and processes to which the definition of carcinogen relates...

H7 Carcinogenic substances and preparations which, if they are inhaled or ingested or if they penetrate the... 

L 5 General COSHH ACOP (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health) and Carcinogens ACOP (Control... 

The carcinogenic potential of the profiled substance is qualitatively evaluated, when appropriate, using existing toxicokinetic, genotoxic, and carcinogenic data. ATSDR does not currently assess cancer potency or perform cancer risk assessments. Minimal risk levels (MRLs) for noncancer end points (if derived) and the end points from which they were derived are indicated and discussed. 

In addition, tests for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity are not likely required for most biopharma-ceutical substances. The regulatory guidelines and industrial practices relating to biopharmaceuti-cal preclinical trials thus remain in an evolutionary mode, and each product is taken on a case-by-case basis. An overview of the main preclinical tests undertaken for a sample biopharmaceutical... 

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