IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans

Background: Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Programme for the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans has been criticized for several of its evaluations, and also for the approach used to perform these evaluations. Some critics have claimed that failures of IARC W...

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Main Authors:	Pearce, N., Blair, A., Vineis, P., Ahrens, W., Andersen, A., Anto, J., Armstrong, B., Baccarelli, A., Beland, F., Berrington, A., Bertazzi, P., Birnbaum, L., Brownson, R., Bucher, J., Cantor, K., Cardis, E., Cherrie, J., Christiani, D., Cocco, P., Coggon, D., Comba, P., Demers, P., Dement, J., Douwes, J., Eisen, E., Engel, L., Fenske, R., Fleming, L., Fletcher, T., Fontham, E., Forastiere, F., Frentzel-Beyme, R., Fritschi, Lin, Gerin, M., Goldberg, M., Grandjean, P., Grimsrud, T., Gustavsson, P., Haines, A., Hartge, P., Hansen, J., Hauptmann, M., Heederik, D., Hemminki, K., Hemon, D., Hertz-Picciotto, I., Hoppin, J., Huff, J., Jarvholm, B., Kang, D., Karagas, M., Kjaerheim, K., Kjuus, H., Kogevinas, M., Kriebel, D., Kristensen, P., Kromhout, H., Laden, F., Lebailly, P., Lemasters, G., Lubin, J., Lynch, C., Lynge, E., Mannetje, A., McMichael, A., McLaughlin, J., Marrett, L., Martuzzi, M., Merchant, J., Merler, E., Merletti, F., Miller, A., Mirer, F., Monson, R., Nordby, K., Olshan, A., Parent, M., Perera, F., Perry, M., Pesatori, A., Pirastu, R., Porta, M., Pukkala, E., Rice, C., Richardson, D., Ritter, L., Ritz, B., Ronckers, C., Rushton, L., Rusiecki, J., Rusyn, I., Samet, J., Sandler, D., de Sanjose, S., Schernhammer, E., Costantini, A., Seixas, N., Shy, C., Siemiatycki, J., Silverman, D., Simonato, L., Smith, A., Smith, M., Spinelli, J., Spitz, M., Stallones, L., Stayner, L., Steenland, K., Stenzel, M., Stewart, B., Stewart, P., Symanski, E., Terracini, B., Tolbert, P., Vainio, H., Vena, J., Vermeulen, R., Victora, C., Ward, E., Weinberg, C., Weisenburger, D., Wesseling, C., Weiderpass, E., Zahm, S.
Format:	Journal Article
Published:	US Department of health Human Sciences National INST of Health Science 2015
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/50174

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author	Pearce, N. Blair, A. Vineis, P. Ahrens, W. Andersen, A. Anto, J. Armstrong, B. Baccarelli, A. Beland, F. Berrington, A. Bertazzi, P. Birnbaum, L. Brownson, R. Bucher, J. Cantor, K. Cardis, E. Cherrie, J. Christiani, D. Cocco, P. Coggon, D. Comba, P. Demers, P. Dement, J. Douwes, J. Eisen, E. Engel, L. Fenske, R. Fleming, L. Fletcher, T. Fontham, E. Forastiere, F. Frentzel-Beyme, R. Fritschi, Lin Gerin, M. Goldberg, M. Grandjean, P. Grimsrud, T. Gustavsson, P. Haines, A. Hartge, P. Hansen, J. Hauptmann, M. Heederik, D. Hemminki, K. Hemon, D. Hertz-Picciotto, I. Hoppin, J. Huff, J. Jarvholm, B. Kang, D. Karagas, M. Kjaerheim, K. Kjuus, H. Kogevinas, M. Kriebel, D. Kristensen, P. Kromhout, H. Laden, F. Lebailly, P. Lemasters, G. Lubin, J. Lynch, C. Lynge, E. Mannetje, A. McMichael, A. McLaughlin, J. Marrett, L. Martuzzi, M. Merchant, J. Merler, E. Merletti, F. Miller, A. Mirer, F. Monson, R. Nordby, K. Olshan, A. Parent, M. Perera, F. Perry, M. Pesatori, A. Pirastu, R. Porta, M. Pukkala, E. Rice, C. Richardson, D. Ritter, L. Ritz, B. Ronckers, C. Rushton, L. Rusiecki, J. Rusyn, I. Samet, J. Sandler, D. de Sanjose, S. Schernhammer, E. Costantini, A. Seixas, N. Shy, C. Siemiatycki, J. Silverman, D. Simonato, L. Smith, A. Smith, M. Spinelli, J. Spitz, M. Stallones, L. Stayner, L. Steenland, K. Stenzel, M. Stewart, B. Stewart, P. Symanski, E. Terracini, B. Tolbert, P. Vainio, H. Vena, J. Vermeulen, R. Victora, C. Ward, E. Weinberg, C. Weisenburger, D. Wesseling, C. Weiderpass, E. Zahm, S.
author_facet	Pearce, N. Blair, A. Vineis, P. Ahrens, W. Andersen, A. Anto, J. Armstrong, B. Baccarelli, A. Beland, F. Berrington, A. Bertazzi, P. Birnbaum, L. Brownson, R. Bucher, J. Cantor, K. Cardis, E. Cherrie, J. Christiani, D. Cocco, P. Coggon, D. Comba, P. Demers, P. Dement, J. Douwes, J. Eisen, E. Engel, L. Fenske, R. Fleming, L. Fletcher, T. Fontham, E. Forastiere, F. Frentzel-Beyme, R. Fritschi, Lin Gerin, M. Goldberg, M. Grandjean, P. Grimsrud, T. Gustavsson, P. Haines, A. Hartge, P. Hansen, J. Hauptmann, M. Heederik, D. Hemminki, K. Hemon, D. Hertz-Picciotto, I. Hoppin, J. Huff, J. Jarvholm, B. Kang, D. Karagas, M. Kjaerheim, K. Kjuus, H. Kogevinas, M. Kriebel, D. Kristensen, P. Kromhout, H. Laden, F. Lebailly, P. Lemasters, G. Lubin, J. Lynch, C. Lynge, E. Mannetje, A. McMichael, A. McLaughlin, J. Marrett, L. Martuzzi, M. Merchant, J. Merler, E. Merletti, F. Miller, A. Mirer, F. Monson, R. Nordby, K. Olshan, A. Parent, M. Perera, F. Perry, M. Pesatori, A. Pirastu, R. Porta, M. Pukkala, E. Rice, C. Richardson, D. Ritter, L. Ritz, B. Ronckers, C. Rushton, L. Rusiecki, J. Rusyn, I. Samet, J. Sandler, D. de Sanjose, S. Schernhammer, E. Costantini, A. Seixas, N. Shy, C. Siemiatycki, J. Silverman, D. Simonato, L. Smith, A. Smith, M. Spinelli, J. Spitz, M. Stallones, L. Stayner, L. Steenland, K. Stenzel, M. Stewart, B. Stewart, P. Symanski, E. Terracini, B. Tolbert, P. Vainio, H. Vena, J. Vermeulen, R. Victora, C. Ward, E. Weinberg, C. Weisenburger, D. Wesseling, C. Weiderpass, E. Zahm, S.
author_sort	Pearce, N.
building	Curtin Institutional Repository
collection	Online Access
description	Background: Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Programme for the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans has been criticized for several of its evaluations, and also for the approach used to perform these evaluations. Some critics have claimed that failures of IARC Working Groups to recognize study weaknesses and biases of Working Group members have led to inappropriate classification of a number of agents as carcinogenic to humans. oBjectives: The authors of this Commentary are scientists from various disciplines relevant to the identification and hazard evaluation of human carcinogens. We examined criticisms of the IARC classification process to determine the validity of these concerns. Here, we present the results of that examination, review the history of IARC evaluations, and describe how the IARC evaluations are performed. discussion: We concluded that these recent criticisms are unconvincing. The procedures employed by IARC to assemble Working Groups of scientists from the various disciplines and the techniques followed to review the literature and perform hazard assessment of various agents provide a balanced evaluation and an appropriate indication of the weight of the evidence. Some disagreement by individual scientists to some evaluations is not evidence of process failure. The review process has been modified over time and will undoubtedly be altered in the future to improve the process. Any process can in theory be improved, and we would support continued review and improvement of the IARC processes. This does not mean, however, that the current procedures are flawed. conclusions: The IARC Monographs have made, and continue to make, major contributions to the scientific underpinning for societal actions to improve the public’s health.
first_indexed	2025-11-14T09:43:35Z
format	Journal Article
id	curtin-20.500.11937-50174
institution	Curtin University Malaysia
institution_category	Local University
last_indexed	2025-11-14T09:43:35Z
publishDate	2015
publisher	US Department of health Human Sciences National INST of Health Science
recordtype	eprints
repository_type	Digital Repository
spelling	curtin-20.500.11937-501742017-09-13T15:48:11Z IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans Pearce, N. Blair, A. Vineis, P. Ahrens, W. Andersen, A. Anto, J. Armstrong, B. Baccarelli, A. Beland, F. Berrington, A. Bertazzi, P. Birnbaum, L. Brownson, R. Bucher, J. Cantor, K. Cardis, E. Cherrie, J. Christiani, D. Cocco, P. Coggon, D. Comba, P. Demers, P. Dement, J. Douwes, J. Eisen, E. Engel, L. Fenske, R. Fleming, L. Fletcher, T. Fontham, E. Forastiere, F. Frentzel-Beyme, R. Fritschi, Lin Gerin, M. Goldberg, M. Grandjean, P. Grimsrud, T. Gustavsson, P. Haines, A. Hartge, P. Hansen, J. Hauptmann, M. Heederik, D. Hemminki, K. Hemon, D. Hertz-Picciotto, I. Hoppin, J. Huff, J. Jarvholm, B. Kang, D. Karagas, M. Kjaerheim, K. Kjuus, H. Kogevinas, M. Kriebel, D. Kristensen, P. Kromhout, H. Laden, F. Lebailly, P. Lemasters, G. Lubin, J. Lynch, C. Lynge, E. Mannetje, A. McMichael, A. McLaughlin, J. Marrett, L. Martuzzi, M. Merchant, J. Merler, E. Merletti, F. Miller, A. Mirer, F. Monson, R. Nordby, K. Olshan, A. Parent, M. Perera, F. Perry, M. Pesatori, A. Pirastu, R. Porta, M. Pukkala, E. Rice, C. Richardson, D. Ritter, L. Ritz, B. Ronckers, C. Rushton, L. Rusiecki, J. Rusyn, I. Samet, J. Sandler, D. de Sanjose, S. Schernhammer, E. Costantini, A. Seixas, N. Shy, C. Siemiatycki, J. Silverman, D. Simonato, L. Smith, A. Smith, M. Spinelli, J. Spitz, M. Stallones, L. Stayner, L. Steenland, K. Stenzel, M. Stewart, B. Stewart, P. Symanski, E. Terracini, B. Tolbert, P. Vainio, H. Vena, J. Vermeulen, R. Victora, C. Ward, E. Weinberg, C. Weisenburger, D. Wesseling, C. Weiderpass, E. Zahm, S. Background: Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Programme for the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans has been criticized for several of its evaluations, and also for the approach used to perform these evaluations. Some critics have claimed that failures of IARC Working Groups to recognize study weaknesses and biases of Working Group members have led to inappropriate classification of a number of agents as carcinogenic to humans. oBjectives: The authors of this Commentary are scientists from various disciplines relevant to the identification and hazard evaluation of human carcinogens. We examined criticisms of the IARC classification process to determine the validity of these concerns. Here, we present the results of that examination, review the history of IARC evaluations, and describe how the IARC evaluations are performed. discussion: We concluded that these recent criticisms are unconvincing. The procedures employed by IARC to assemble Working Groups of scientists from the various disciplines and the techniques followed to review the literature and perform hazard assessment of various agents provide a balanced evaluation and an appropriate indication of the weight of the evidence. Some disagreement by individual scientists to some evaluations is not evidence of process failure. The review process has been modified over time and will undoubtedly be altered in the future to improve the process. Any process can in theory be improved, and we would support continued review and improvement of the IARC processes. This does not mean, however, that the current procedures are flawed. conclusions: The IARC Monographs have made, and continue to make, major contributions to the scientific underpinning for societal actions to improve the public’s health. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/50174 10.1289/ehp.1409149 US Department of health Human Sciences National INST of Health Science unknown
spellingShingle	Pearce, N. Blair, A. Vineis, P. Ahrens, W. Andersen, A. Anto, J. Armstrong, B. Baccarelli, A. Beland, F. Berrington, A. Bertazzi, P. Birnbaum, L. Brownson, R. Bucher, J. Cantor, K. Cardis, E. Cherrie, J. Christiani, D. Cocco, P. Coggon, D. Comba, P. Demers, P. Dement, J. Douwes, J. Eisen, E. Engel, L. Fenske, R. Fleming, L. Fletcher, T. Fontham, E. Forastiere, F. Frentzel-Beyme, R. Fritschi, Lin Gerin, M. Goldberg, M. Grandjean, P. Grimsrud, T. Gustavsson, P. Haines, A. Hartge, P. Hansen, J. Hauptmann, M. Heederik, D. Hemminki, K. Hemon, D. Hertz-Picciotto, I. Hoppin, J. Huff, J. Jarvholm, B. Kang, D. Karagas, M. Kjaerheim, K. Kjuus, H. Kogevinas, M. Kriebel, D. Kristensen, P. Kromhout, H. Laden, F. Lebailly, P. Lemasters, G. Lubin, J. Lynch, C. Lynge, E. Mannetje, A. McMichael, A. McLaughlin, J. Marrett, L. Martuzzi, M. Merchant, J. Merler, E. Merletti, F. Miller, A. Mirer, F. Monson, R. Nordby, K. Olshan, A. Parent, M. Perera, F. Perry, M. Pesatori, A. Pirastu, R. Porta, M. Pukkala, E. Rice, C. Richardson, D. Ritter, L. Ritz, B. Ronckers, C. Rushton, L. Rusiecki, J. Rusyn, I. Samet, J. Sandler, D. de Sanjose, S. Schernhammer, E. Costantini, A. Seixas, N. Shy, C. Siemiatycki, J. Silverman, D. Simonato, L. Smith, A. Smith, M. Spinelli, J. Spitz, M. Stallones, L. Stayner, L. Steenland, K. Stenzel, M. Stewart, B. Stewart, P. Symanski, E. Terracini, B. Tolbert, P. Vainio, H. Vena, J. Vermeulen, R. Victora, C. Ward, E. Weinberg, C. Weisenburger, D. Wesseling, C. Weiderpass, E. Zahm, S. IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans
title	IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans
title_full	IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans
title_fullStr	IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans
title_full_unstemmed	IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans
title_short	IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans
title_sort	iarc monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans
url	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/50174

IARC monographs: 40 years of evaluating carcinogenic hazards to humans

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