Federal Government Updates List of Human Carcinogens

On June 10, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the "12th Report on Carcinogens." The report adds eight additional substances/chemicals to the list of known or suspected human cancer-causing products. The report is mandated by Congress to be prepared by the National Toxicology Program for the secretary of HHS.

Inclusion in the report does not immediately classify a substance as a carcinogen. There are multiple factors including amount and duration of exposure to a substance that determine its likelihood of causing cancer in an individual, explains the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, through which HHS released information about the report to the press.

The eight substances added to the current list of 232 other known or suspected carcinogens are: formaldehyde, aristolochic acid, captafol, cobalt-tungsten carbide, certain inhalable glass wool fibers, styrene, riddelliine and o-nitrotoluene. Cobalt-tungsten carbide is listed in both hard-metal and powder forms.

Of the eight substances added to the list of known or suspected cancer-causing agents in humans, aristolochic acid and formaldehyde are recognized as known carcinogens. The other six substances are "reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens," according to the press release.

Aristolochic acid is an acid formed naturally in some plants and is found in some botanical products that may still be purchased on the Internet or from other countries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to consumers in 2001 against using any products containing this substance due to the high risk of bladder and other urinary tract cancers it is known to cause.

Formaldehyde, a substance used widely in the manufacture of household items, was first identified as reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen in the 2nd Report on Carcinogens. Since then, more research has been done that demonstrates the cancer-causing ability of this chemical agent. The scientific evidence now available shows that people who have high exposures to formaldehyde have an increased risk for the rare cancers of the nasopharynx (upper part of throat behind nose), sinonasal areas (head sinuses) and of white blood cells, termed myeloid leukemia.

Bryan Walsh, writing for Time'com's Healthland, explains why he believes it has taken the federal government so long to act on consumer's behalf regarding cancer-causing substances: Money is the underlying factor. Many industries rely on the use of these substances; reducing or preventing exposure to substances by employees--or having to find alternative production methods--is costly.

The science of risk assessment is open to interpretation by big money and politicians alike. The wheels of big government move slowly and when there is any window open to doubt, industry usually wins. With the current economy and dearth of jobs, politicians are especially sensitive to regulations that hamper industry.

As consumers and citizens, we expect that the government is looking out for our best health interests; as citizens looking for work or looking for the end of the recession, we expect the government to do what is needed to make jobs available and improve the economy. Sometimes those two interests and expectations conflict, as is the case with cancer-causing substances currently in widespread use by industry.

A copy of the 12th Report on Carcinogens is available at the National Toxicology Program website.



Sources: National Toxicology Program; 12th Report on Carcinogens; June 10, 2011
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; New Substances Added to HHS Report on Carcinogens; June 10, 2011
Time.com; Healthland; "Why the Federal Government Finally Acted on Chemical Safety"; Bryan Walsh; June 11, 2011