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WOOD DUST, TALC, ESTROGENS, AND NICKEL ALLOYS AMONG
SUBSTANCES BEING REVIEWED FOR INCLUSION IN REPORT ON
CARCINOGENS
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WOOD DUST, TALC, ESTROGENS, AND NICKEL ALLOYS AMONG
SUBSTANCES BEING REVIEWED FOR INCLUSION IN REPORT ON
CARCINOGENS
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| Wood dust produced in furniture and cabinet manufacture,
and common talc are among the substances being considered
for listing in the next federal "Report on Carcinogens".
To assist the National Toxicology Program in preparing the
report, a group of scientific advisers will review the
proposed substances Dec. 13_15 at the Wyndham City Center,
1143 New Hampshire Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
The meeting is open to the public. Other substances to be
reviewed include broad spectrum ultraviolet light, as well
as UVA, UVB, and UVC, the flavoring agent methyleugenol,
metallic nickel and nickel alloys, trichloroethylene and
two pharmaceutical agents long known to have medical
benefits, but also with recognized risks for causing
cancer.
The final version of this tenth report will be prepared by
the National Toxicology Program headquartered at the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, one of
the National Institutes of Health, for the Secretary of
Health and Human Services. As in the past, the next, or
tenth, report will also list the regulations or
restrictions that apply to the various substances. The
reports are mandated by Congress to help the public, as
well as Congress, determine if substances with a potential
risk of causing cancer are properly regulated. The December
advisory review will be by a subcommittee of the NTP Board
of Scientific Counselors.
The two medical products to be considered are
chloramphenicol, which is an antibiotic in limited use, and
steroidal estrogens, which have been used extensively as
post_menopausal therapy and in oral contraceptives for
women. The data on these and the other substances have
already been reviewed by a panel of NIEHS/NTP scientists
and a panel of government scientists from many agencies.
Scientists and members of the public can submit material or
register to speak at the Dec. 13_ 15 meeting by contacting
the NTP Board Executive Secretary Mary S. Wolfe, Ph.D.,
NIEHS, Box 12233, A3_07, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709,
e_mailing wolfe@niehs.nih.gov or telephoning (919)
541_0295. An official notice on the meeting begins on
page 61352 of the "Federal Register", Volume 65, Number
201; updated information is provided on page 75726 of the
"Federal Register", volume 65, Number 233.
THE POSSIBLE LISTINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS:
--WOOD DUST, proposed for listing in the category of "known
to be a human carcinogen," is associated with increases in
cancer of the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses largely
in workers exposed during furniture and cabinet
manufacture. An estimated two million people worldwide are
routinely exposed to wood dust occupationally.
--TALC in some geological settings contains asbestiform
fibers, and workers exposed in some talc mining and milling
operations have shown increases in tumors typically
associated with exposure to asbestos. This talc,
containing the asbestiform fibers, has been proposed for
listing under the category, "known to be a human
carcinogen." Talc that does not contain asbestiform fibers
has been proposed for the listing of "reasonably
anticipated to be a human carcinogen." Talcum powder use
in feminine hygiene has been associated with ovarian
cancer.
--TRICHLOROETHYLENE (TCE) has been proposed for listing as
"known to be a human carcinogen," based in large part on
accumulating evidence of liver and kidney cancers in humans
exposed to TCE. The solvent is used mainly as a degreaser
for metal parts, in vapor or cold degreasing operations for
furniture and fixtures, fabricated metal products,
electrical and electronic equipment, transport equipment,
and miscellaneous manufacturing.
--STEROIDAL ESTROGENS, which occur naturally in women and
to a degree also in men, also have important medical uses
as estrogen replacement therapies and for birth control.
Their use has long been associated with a somewhat elevated
risk of uterine endometrial and breast cancers. Steroidal
estrogens have been proposed for listing in the "known"
category.
--BROAD SPECTRUM ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION -- whether from the
sun or from lamps and sunbeds -- is being reviewed for
listing in the 10th Report in the category "known to be a
human carcinogen" based on associations with skin cancer,
including sometimes fatal malignant melanomas. However,
there is less information about the separate wavelengths of
ultraviolet radiation so each is separately proposed for
listing as "reasonably anticipated to be a human
carcinogen."
--CHLORAMPHENICOL, an antibiotic, was found to be effective
against typhus in 1948 and became one of the first
antibiotics in large_scale production. However, by 1950 it
was known to sometimes cause potentially fatal aplastic
anemia, so it rapidly fell from favor. It is now used in
the United States only for serious infections such as
meningitis and typhoid fever where other antibiotics are
either ineffective or contraindicated. Limited studies in
humans have associated the drug with leukemia. It is
proposed for listing as "reasonably anticipated to be a
human carcinogen."
--METHYLEUGENOL, a flavoring agent that occurs naturally
and is also made synthetically, has been found to be a
carcinogen in experimental animal studies and is proposed
to be listed in the category, "reasonably anticipated to be
a human carcinogen." It is used in jellies, baked goods,
nonalcoholic beverages, chewing gum, candy and ice cream,
and as a fragrance in perfumes, lotions, detergents and
soaps. Methyleugenol is a naturally occurring substance
present in pimento, basil, hyacinth, citronella, anise,
nutmeg, mace, cinnamon leaves, pixuri seeds, laurel fruits
and leaves, blackberry essence, bananas, black pepper and
bilberries.
--METALLIC NICKEL AND NICKEL ALLOYS, have each been
proposed to be listed as "reasonably anticipated to be a
human carcinogen." Nickel and nickel compounds were
reviewed for listing in the ninth Report on Carcinogens,
but the listing was deferred until metallic nickel and
nickel alloys could undergo additional specific review.
Staff papers on the proposals can be read at
http://roc.niehs.nih.gov/rocpublic.
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