List of IARC Group 1 carcinogens

Substances, mixtures and exposure circumstances in this list have been classified by the IARC as Group 1: The agent (mixture) is carcinogenic to humans. The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are carcinogenic to humans. This category is used when there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in humans. Exceptionally, an agent (mixture) may be placed in this category when evidence of carcinogenicity in humans is less than sufficient but there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals and strong evidence in exposed humans that the agent (mixture) acts through a relevant mechanism of carcinogenicity.

Agents

Substances

• 2-Naphthylamine
• Acetaldehyde^[1] associated with consumption of alcoholic beverages
• 4-Aminobiphenyl
• Aflatoxins
• Aristolochic acids, and plants containing them
• Arsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds¹
• Asbestos
• Azathioprine
• Benzene
• Benzidine, and dyes metabolized to
• Benzo[a]pyrene
• Beryllium and beryllium compounds²
• Chlornapazine (N,N-Bis(2-chloroethyl)-2-naphthylamine)
• Bis(chloromethyl)ether
• Chloromethyl methyl ether
• 1,3-Butadiene
• 1,4-Butanediol dimethanesulfonate (Busulphan, Myleran)
• Cadmium and cadmium compounds²
• Chlorambucil
• Methyl-CCNU (1-(2-Chloroethyl)-3-(4-methylcyclohexyl)-1-nitrosourea; Semustine)
• Chromium(VI) compounds²
• Ciclosporin
• Clonorchis sinensis (infection with)
• Cyclophosphamide
• 1,2-Dichloropropane
• Diethylstilboestrol
• Epstein-Barr virus
• Estrogen therapy, postmenopausal
• Ethanol in alcoholic beverages^4[1]
• Erionite
• Ethylene oxide
• Etoposide alone, and in combination with cisplatin and bleomycin
• Fluoro-edenite fibrous amphibole
• Formaldehyde
• Gallium arsenide
• Helicobacter pylori (infection with)
• Hepatitis B virus (chronic infection with)
• Hepatitis C virus (chronic infection with)
• Human herpesvirus 8 (Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus)
• Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (infection with)
• Human papillomavirus type 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59 and 66
• Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I)
• Lindane
• Melphalan
• Methoxsalen (8-Methoxypsoralen) plus ultraviolet A radiation
• 4,4'-Methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA)
• MOPP and other combined chemotherapy including alkylating agents
• Mustard gas (Sulfur mustard)
• 2-Naphthylamine
• Neutron radiation
• Nickel compounds²
• 4-(N-Nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)
• N-Nitrosonornicotine (NNN)
• Opisthorchis viverrini (infection with)
• Outdoor air pollution
• Particulate matter in outdoor air pollution
• 2,3,4,7,8-Pentachlorodibenzofuran
• 3,4,5,3’,4’-Pentachlorobiphenyl(PCB-126)
• Phosphorus-32, as phosphate
• Plutonium
• Radioiodines, short-lived isotopes, including iodine-131, from atomic reactor accidents and nuclear weapons detonation (exposure during childhood)
• Radionuclides, α-particle-emitting, internally deposited⁵
• Radionuclides, β-particle-emitting, internally deposited⁵
• Radium-224 and its decay products
• Radium-226 and its decay products
• Radium-228 and its decay products
• Radon-222 and its decay products
• Schistosoma haematobium (infection with)
• Silica dust, crystalline (inhaled in the form of quartz or cristobalite from occupational sources)
• Talc containing asbestiform fibres
• Tamoxifen⁶
• 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)
• Thiotepa (1,1',1"-Phosphinothioylidynetrisaziridine)
• Thorium-232 and its decay products, administered intravenously as a colloidal dispersion of thorium-232 dioxide
• Treosulfan
• Trichloroethylene
• o-Toluidine
• Vinyl chloride

Radiations

• Ionizing radiation (all types)
• Ultraviolet radiation including solar radiation
• X-Radiation and gamma radiation

Mixtures

• Aflatoxins (naturally occurring mixtures of)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Areca nut
• Betel quid with tobacco
• Betel quid without tobacco
• Coal-tar pitches
• Coal-tars
• Coal, indoor emissions from household combustion of
• Engine exhaust, diesel^[2]
• Estrogen-progestogen menopausal therapy, (combined)
• Estrogen-progestogen oral contraceptives (combined)3
• Fission products, including Strontium-90
• Leather dust
• Mineral oils, untreated and mildly treated
• Paints containing benzene
• Phenacetin, analgesic mixtures containing
• Plants containing aristolochic acid
• Polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxin-like
• Processed meats, consumption of ^[3]
• Salted fish (Chinese-style)
• Shale-oils
• Soot (as found in occupational exposure of chimney sweeps)
• Wood dust

Exposure circumstances

• Acheson process, occupational exposure associated with
• Acid mists, strong inorganic
• Aluminium production
• Auramine production
• Boot and shoe manufacture and repair (see leather Dust and benzene)
• Chimney sweeping (see Soot)
• Coal gasification
• Coal tar distillation
• Coke (fuel) production
• Furniture and cabinet making (see wood dust)
• Haematite mining (underground) with exposure to radon
• Iron and steel founding (occupational exposure to)
• Isopropanol manufacture (strong-acid process)
• Glass, making of
• Magenta dyes, manufacture of
• Painting (see benzene)
• Paving and roofing with coal tar pitch
• Rubber manufacturing industry
• Sandblasting (see silica dust)
• Smokeless tobacco
• Tobacco smoke, second hand
• Tobacco smoking
• Ultraviolet-emitting tanning devices

Notes

1. This evaluation applies to the group of compounds as a whole and not necessarily to all individual compounds within the group.
2. Evaluated as a group.
3. There is also conclusive evidence that these agents have a protective effect against cancers of the ovary and endometrium.
4. Ethanol is not carcinogenic, but is metabolised to acetaldehyde, which is carcinogenic.
5. Specific radionuclides for which there is sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity to humans are also listed individually as Group 1 agents.
6. There is also conclusive evidence that this agent (tamoxifen) reduces the risk of contralateral breast cancer.

References

1. "IARC: IARC STRENGTHENS ITS FINDINGS ON SEVERAL CARCINOGENIC PERSONAL HABITS AND HOUSEHOLD EXPOSURES" (Press release). International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Retrieved August 1, 2014. November 2, 2009 ‐‐ IARC has updated the cancer assessments of several personal habits and household exposures that cause cancer, including tobacco, areca nut, alcohol, and household coal smoke. The update was conducted with the advice of 30 scientists from 10 countries who met at IARC in October 2009. [...] The Working Group concluded that acetaldehyde associated with alcohol consumption is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1) and confirmed the classification in Group 1 of alcohol consumption and of ethanol in alcoholic beverages.
2. "IARC: DIESEL ENGINE EXHAUST CARCINOGENIC" (Press release). International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Retrieved August 14, 2016. June 12, 2012 ‐‐ After a week-long meeting of international experts, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), today classified diesel engine exhaust as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), based on sufficient evidence that exposure is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer
3. "IARC Monographs evaluate consumption of red meat and processed meat" (PDF). Retrieved 26 October 2015.

External links

• Description of the list of classifications, IARC
  • List of classifications (latest version)
  • List of classifications by cancer site (last updated on 5 November 2015)