THIS WILL KILL YA

How many things can kill you?

More precisely, how many substances in the environment that we come into contact with every day are capable of causing cancer?

According to the U.S. government, the answer is 228---and some are pretty surprising too. Knowing what's on the list may change what you do.

On 11 December 2002, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its most recent REPORT ON CARCINOGENS (RoC). The RoC is compiled by toxicology experts who assessed available data on carcinogens.

The RoC was simultaneously presented to the U.S. Congress and released to the public. The RoC attracts almost no reaction from the media and the public, although everyone would be well advised to know their contents.
Newly listed as "known" human carcinogens are substances that have sufficient evidence from human studies to establish carcinogenicity. They are:

Steroidal Estrogens. These are a group of related hormones that control sex and growth characteristics and are commonly used in estrogen replacement therapy to treat symptoms of menopause and in oral contraceptives. The RoC cites data from human epidemiology studies that show an association between estrogen replacement therapy and a consistent increase in the risk of endometrial cancer as well as a significant but a less consistent increase in the risk of breast cancer. Endometrial cancer occurs in the endometrial lining of the uterus. As for the other common use for steroidal estrogens, the RoC says the evidence suggests oral contraceptives containing estrogen may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, but interestingly, may also protect against ovarian and endometrial cancers.

Broad Spectrum Ultraviolet Radiation (UVR). UVR is produced by the sun as part of solar radiation and by artificial sources such as sun lamps, tanning beds, medical diagnosis and treatment procedures, and industry for promoting polymerization reactions.

The RoC cites data indicating a cause-and-effect relationship between this radiation and skin cancer, cancer of the lip, and melanoma of the eye. The RoC goes on to say that skin cancers are observed with increasing duration of exposure and for those who experience sunburn. The individual components of UVR, which includes ultraviolet A, ultraviolet B, and ultraviolet C radiation, are listed in the report, not as "known", but as "reasonably anticipated" human carcinogens.

Nickel Compounds. Used in many industrial applications as catalysts and in batteries, pigments and ceramics, the RoC newly lists nickel compounds as "known" human carcinogens based on studies of workers showing excess deaths from lung and nasal cancers and on their mechanisms of action.

Wood Dust. Listed as a "known human carcinogen" in this RoC, wood dust is created when machines and tools cut, shape, and finish wood. Wood dust is particularly prevalent in sawmills, furniture manufacture, and in cabinet making. But even the home carpenter is not free of risk. According to the RoC, unprotected workers have a higher risk of cancers of the nasal cavities and sinuses.

Twelve substances or groups of substances are newly listed as "reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens".

In these, there is either limited evidence of carcinogenicity from human studies and/or sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from experimental animal studies. These are:

IQ, or 2-Amino-3-Methylimidazo[4,5-f] Quinoline. This is formed during direct cooking with high heat of foods such as meats and eggs and also found in cigarette smoke. It is listed as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" based on long-term animal studies. The RoC also states there are several published human studies that suggest there is an increased risk for breast and colorectal cancers related to consumption of broiled or fried foods that may contain IQ and/or other similar compounds formed during cooking at high temperatures.

2,2-Bis-(Bromomethyl)-1,3-Propanediol (Technical Grade). This is a flame retardant chemical used to make some polyester resins and rigid polyurethane foam is listed as "reasonably anticipated" based on long-term animal feeding studies.

Chloramphenicol. This is an antibiotic now with restricted use in the U.S. at least because it can cause fatal blood disorders. It is listed in the RoC as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen". The RoC says the listing is based on limited evidence from human studies that showed an increased cancer risk for the occurrence of leukemia after chloramphenicol therapy.

2,3-Dibromo-1-Propanol. This is a chemical used as an intermediate in the production of flame retardants, insecticides, and pharmaceuticals. It is listed in the RoC as "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" based on strong evidence of cancer formation from skin painting study in experimental animals.

Dyes Metabolized to 3,3'-Dimethoxybenzidine. These are dyes that have been used to color leather, paper, plastic, rubber and textiles and are listed in the report because they are metabolized to 3,3'-dimethoxybenzidine, which is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen".

Dyes Metabolized to 3,3'-Demethylbenzidine. These are dyes that have been used in printing textiles, in color photography and as biological stains and are listed in the report because these dyes are metabolized to 3,3'-dimethylbenzidine, which is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen".

Methyleugenol. This substance occurs naturally in oils, herbs, and spices and is used in smaller amounts in its natural or synthetic form in flavors, insect attractants, anesthetics, and sunscreens. It is listed in the RoC based on sufficient evidence of cancer formation from oral studies of this chemical in experimental animals.

Metallic Nickel. This metal is used mainly in alloys with most exposures by inhalation or skin contact in the workplace. It is listed in the RoC based on sufficient evidence of cancer formation from studies of this chemical in experimental animals.

Styrene 7,8-oxide. This substance is used in producing reinforced plastics and as a chemical intermediate for cosmetics, surface coatings, agricultural, and biological chemicals. It is listed in the RoC based on sufficient evidence of cancer formation from studies of this chemical in experimental animals.

Vinyl Bromide. This has been used in polymers in making fabrics for clothes, home furnishings, as well as in leather and metal products, drugs and fumigants. It is listed in the RoC based on sufficient evidence of cancer formation from studies of this chemical in experimental animals.

Vinyl Fluride. This substance is used in making polyvinyl fluoride and related weather-resistant fluoropolymers. Support for the listing came from inhalation studies in experimental animals. It is listed in the RoC based on sufficient evidence of cancer formation from studies of this chemical in experimental animals.

One group of substances was upgraded to "known" human carcinogen from "reasonably anticipated" human carcinogen. This is:

Beryllium and Beryllium Compounds. About 800,000 U.S. workers are exposed via inhalation of beryllium dust or dermal contact with products containing beryllium. Workers with the highest potential for exposure include beryllium miners, beryllium alloy makers and fabricators, ceramics workers, missile technicians, nuclear reactor workers, electric and electronic equipment workers, and jewellers. According to data cited in the RoC, they have higher risks for lung cancer which increase with their exposures and which cannot be explained by tobacco smoking or other occupational exposures.

The U.S. government publishes the RoC every two years. The current RoC is the tenth in the series. The RoC expert panel consists of scientists from both inside and outside of government. The experts work as part of a team from the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).

The NIEHS is part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) which in turn is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The latest RoC does not assess the magnitude of the carcinogenic risk nor does it address any potential benefits of listed substances such as certain pharmaceuticals.

Listing in the report does not establish that the substance automatically presents a risk to persons in their daily lives. Such formal risk assessments are always ultimately the responsibility of local, state, federal, or world health regulatory agencies whether in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world---including Australia.

The REPORT ON CARCINOGENS is immediately accessible at
http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov.
For available hard copies, email ehponline@niehs.nih.gov, visit http://www.ehponline.org, or write Environmental Health Perspectives, Attn: Order Processing, 1001 Winstead Drive, Suite 355, Cary, North Carolina 27513 U.S.A.. Requests for hard copies may also be faxed to 0011-1- 919-678-8696.
For the fact sheets, "What is the Report On Carcinogens?" and "Q and A on the RoC" , as well as background documents for the new listings, these can be accessed at http://ntp-server.niehs.nih.gov/.

 

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