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1,3-Butadiene, Ethylene Oxide and Vinyl Halides (Vinyl Fluoride, Vinyl Chloride and Vinyl Bromide)
IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, No. 97
Authors
IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans.This ninety-seventh volume contains evaluations by a group of 25 scientists from eight countries of the carcinogenic hazard to humans of 1,3-butadiene, ethylene oxide and some vinyl halides (vinyl fluoride, vinyl chloride and vinyl bromide). These industrial gases or their epoxide metabolites are direct-acting mutagens that induce malignant tumours at many sites in rodents.
The Working Group classified 1,3-butadiene as "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1), on the basis of "sufficient evidence" in humans of an increased risk for leukaemias.
Although the epidemiological evidence was "limited", the Working Group classified ethylene oxide as "carcinogenic to humans"(Group 1) taking into consideration that: ethylene oxide is an alkylating agent that directly reacts with DNA; it induces a dose-related increase in the amount of haemoglobin adducts in humans and rodents; it induces DNA adducts in rodents; it consistently acts as a mutagen and clastogen at all phylogenetic levels; it induces heritable translocations in the germ cells of rodents; and it induces a dose-related increase in the frequency of sister chromatid exchange, chromosomal aberrations, and micronucleus formation in lymphocytes of exposed workers. The two latter effects have been shown to be associated with an increased risk for human cancer.
Together with the finding that vinyl chloride increases the risk for liver cirrhosis, a risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, other results provide "sufficient evidence" in humans that vinyl chloride causes angiosarcoma of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma, leading to the overall classification of vinyl chloride as "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1).
Vinyl fluoride and vinyl bromide are gases used predominantly for the manufacture of their respective polymers. The Working Group took into consideration that all available studies showed a consistently parallel response between these chemicals and vinyl chloride, and classified vinyl fluoride and vinyl bromide separately as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A). They stressed that for practical purposes, these chemicals should be considered to act similarly to the human carcinogen, vinyl chloride.
Contents
Corrigenda to the IARC Monographs are published online at http://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Publications/corrigenda.php.
Corrigenda to Volume 97. (PDF, 70K)
LIBRARY CATALOGUING DATA
This publication represents the views and expert opinions of an IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, which met in Lyon, 5–12 June 2007
Lyon, France - 2008
IARC MONOGRAPHS
In 1969, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) initiated a programme on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans involving the production of critically evaluated monographs on individual chemicals. The programme was subsequently expanded to include evaluations of carcinogenic risks associated with exposures to complex mixtures, life-style factors and biological and physical agents, as well as those in specific occupations.
The objective of the programme is to elaborate and publish in the form of monographs critical reviews of data on carcinogenicity for agents to which humans are known to be exposed and on specific exposure situations; to evaluate these data in terms of human risk with the help of international working groups of experts in chemical carcinogenesis and related fields; and to indicate where additional research efforts are needed.
The lists of IARC evaluations are regularly updated and are available on Internet: http://monographs.iarc.fr/
This programme has been supported by Cooperative Agreement 5UO1CA33193 awarded since 1982 by the United States National Cancer Institute, Department of Health and Human Services. Additional support has been provided since 1986 by the European Commission, Directorate-General EMPL (Employment, and Social Affairs), Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work Unit, and since 1992 by the United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences.
- Published by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69372 Lyon Cedex 08, France
- ©International Agency for Research on Cancer, 2008
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IARC Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
- 1,3-Butadiene, Ethylene oxide and Vinyl Halides (Vinyl Fluoride, Vinyl Chloride and Vinyl Bromide)/IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans (2007 : Lyon, France)
- (IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans ; v. 97)
- 1. Butadienes – adverse effects 2. Carcinogens 3. Ethylene oxide – adverse effects 4. Vinyl Compounds – adverse 5. Neoplasms – chemically induced
- I. IARC Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans II. Series
- ISBN 978 92 832 1297 3 (NLM Classification: W1)
- ISSN 1017-1606
- PRINTED IN FRANCE
1 Ethylene oxide is an effective fumigant and sterilant for microbial organisms. It is used to treat hospital equipment, disposable and reusable medical items, drugs, packaging materials, scientific equipment and many other items.
2 The largest single use for 1,3-butadiene is in the production of styrenebutadiene rubber for tyres and tyre products.
3 Vinyl chloride is used primarily in the manufacture of polyvinyl chloride.
Cover design: Georges Mollon, IARC