Articles
Report on Carcinogens
To help regulate chemicals, the National Toxicology
Program issues the annual Report on Carcinogens (abbreviated
ROC). This report was ordered by Congress in 1978. By 1978,
it was becoming obvious to scientists that both man-made and
natural chemicals found in food, drugs and the environment
were to blame for many cancers.
The report is put together by scientific experts, who consider
all the relevant information about a potential toxin. The information
in the report is used by several organizations to regulate
potential human carcinogens. A few such organizations include
the U.S. Congress, Federal and State agencies such as the Environmental
Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,
private businesses, unions and the general public. As you can
imagine, these reports are highly regarded by scientists and
government officials alike.
The carcinogens in the report are classified as either “known
to be human carcinogens” or as “reasonably anticipated
to cause cancer and to which a significant number of Americans
are exposed”. The report defines substances “known
to be human carcinogens” as compounds directly linked
to human cancer. Since actual human studies are not ethical
for this determination, scientists rely on human epidemiology
and/or studies testing carcinogens on human tissues. If the
report refers to a substance as “reasonably anticipated
to be a human carcinogen” that means scientists have
seen some evidence in humans and/or enough evidence of carcinogenity
in experimental animals.
One of the latest editions of the Report on Carcinogens (9th
edition) listed several "commonplace" items. This
report listed alcoholic beverages, smoking and chewing tobacco,
exposure to second hand tobacco smoke and exhaust from cars
fueled by diesel as human carcinogens. In addition, sunlight
and the use of sun lamps and sunbeds were also listed as carcinogens.
There are several widely used substances under review for
future editions of the report (which may already be out). Beryllium
and beryllium compounds have been suggested as “known
human carcinogens”. These substances are used in cell
phones and fiber optics.
Also under review at the time of this writing is a widely
used antibiotic called Chloramphenicol. This antibiotic has
been commonly prescribed since the 1950’s. A link between
Chloramphenicol and leukemia has been thought to be shown in
several human and animal cases. Steroidal estrogens are also
on the list. These are used to make oral contraceptives (i.e. “The
Pill”) and post-menopausal therapy. A virus that is linked
to cervical cancer will also most likely be placed on the list.
The virus is called human papilloma virus (HPV). About 95%
of all women diagnosed with cervical cancer have been found
to test positive for HPV.
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