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Vol. 1 - Pages 2.1-2.18 (Printed Version) - Tabl* 2.10

Cancer

OCCUPATIONAL CARCINOGENS

Environmental agents/exposures known or suspected to cause cancer in humans1

Agent/exposure

Target organ2

Strength of evidence3

Air pollutants

Erionite

Lung, pleura

1

Asbestos

Lung, pleura

1

Polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons4

(Lung, bladder)

S

Water pollutants

Arsenic

Skin

1

Chlorination by-products

(Bladder)

S

Nitrate and nitrite

(Oesophagus, stomach)

S

Radiation

Radon and its decay products

Lung

1

Radium, thorium

Bone

E

Other X-irradiation

Leukaemia, breast, thyroid, others

E

Solar radiation

Skin

1

Ultraviolet radiation A

(Skin)

2A

Ultraviolet radiation B

(Skin)

2A

Ultraviolet radiation C

(Skin)

2A

Use of sunlamps and sunbeds

(Skin)

2A

Electric and magnetic fields

(Leukaemia)

S

Biological agents

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus

Liver

1

Chronic infection with hepatitis C virus

Liver

1

Infection with Helicobacter pylori

Stomach

1

Infection with Opistorchis viverrini

Bile ducts

1

Infection with Chlonorchis sinensis

(Liver)

2A

Human Papilloma virus types 16 and18

Cervix

1

Human Papilloma virus types 31 and 33

(Cervix)

2A

Human Papilloma virus types other than 16, 18, 31 and 33

(Cervix)

2B

Infection with Schistosoma haematobium

Bladder

1

Infection with Schistosoma japonicum

(Liver, colon)

2B

Tobacco, alcohol and related substances

Alcoholic beverages

Mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, liver, larynx

1

Tobacco smoke

Lip, mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, pancreas, larynx, lung, kidney, bladder, (others)

1

Smokeless tobacco products

Mouth

1

Betel quid with tobacco

Mouth

1

 

Dietary factors

Aflatoxins

Liver

1

Aflatoxin M1

(Liver)

2B

Ochratoxin A

(Kidney)

2B

Toxins derived from Fusarium moniliforme

(Oesophagus)

2B

Chinese style salted fish

Nasopharynx

1

Pickled vegetables (traditional in Asia)

(Oesophagus, stomach)

2B

Bracken fern

(Oesophagus)

2B

Safrole

–

2B

Coffee

(Bladder)

2B

Caffeic acid

–

2B

Hot mate

(Oesophagus)

2A

Fresh fruits and vegetables (protective)

Mouth, oesophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, larynx, lung (others)

E

Fat

(Colon, breast, endometrium)

S

Fibre (protective)

(Colon, rectum)

S

Nitrate and nitrite

(Oesophagus, stomach)

S

Salt

(Stomach)

S

Vitamin A, b-carotene (protective)

(Mouth, oesophagus, lung, others)

S

Vitamin C (protective)

(Oesophagus, stomach)

S

IQ

(Stomach, colon, rectum)

2A

MeIQ

–

2B

MeIQx

–

2B

PhIP

–

2B

Reproductive and sexual behaviour

Late age at first pregnancy

Breast

E

Low parity

Breast, ovary, corpus uteri

E

Early age at first intercourse

Cervix

E

Number of sexual partners

Cervix

E

1 Agents and exposures, as well as medicines, occurring mainly in the occupational setting are
excluded.
2 Suspected target organs are given in parentheses.
3 IARC Monograph evaluation reported wherever available (1: human carcinogen;
2A: probable human carcinogen; 2B: possible human carcinogen);
otherwise E: established carcinogen; S: suspected carcinogen.
4 Human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons occurs in mixtures, such as engine
emissions, combustion fumes and soots. Several mixtures and individual hydrocarbons have
been evaluated by IARC.

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Updated by AS. Approved by JT. Last modification: 1 July 2002.