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.