Carcinogens
Carcinogens, or agents that cause cancer, are classified by several organizations...
- The International Agency for Research on Cancer is the most respected voice internationaly on the classification of cancer causing substances. The list of substances and definitions can be found at: http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Classification/
- In the United States, the National Toxicology Program is the organization considered most trusted source in this country on Cancer. The most current NTP report on Carcinogens can be found at: http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm?objectid=72016262-BDB7-CEBA-FA60E922B18C2540
Occupationally Regulated Carcinogens
In California, the Department of Industrial Relations, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) regulates Occupational Use of and Exposure to a select set of carcinogens. The substances currently regulated as occupational carcinogens in California can be found at: www.dir.ca.gov/Title8/sb7g16a110.html
Cal/OSHA also requires each employer to report the use of carcinogens annually §5203. Carcinogen Report of Use Requirements.
Another source of information about potential carcinogens is proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986, The Proposition was intended by its authors to protect California citizens and the State's drinking water sources from chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm, and to inform citizens about exposures to such chemicals.Proposition 65 requires the Governor to publish, at least annually, a list of chemicals known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity. Small businesses with less than 10 employees, governmental agencies, and public water systems are exempt from the warning requirement and discharge prohibition of Proposition 65.
The threshold for inclusion in the Prop 65 list is very low: A chemical is known to the state to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity within the meaning of this chapter if in the opinion of the state's qualified experts it has been clearly shown through scientifically valid testing according to generally accepted principles to cause cancer or reproductive toxicity, or if a body considered to be authoritative by such experts has formally identified it as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity, or if an agency of the state or federal government has formally required it to be labeled or identified as causing cancer or reproductive toxicity.
For assistance in understanding or complying with these regulations at UCR contact EH&S