News & InsightsNewsletterLegislation Hub

Foresight

Foresight
AboutContactLog in
Book a Demo
Foresight logo
All News & Insights

IARC Evaluates Carcinogenicity of Talc and Acrylonitrile

General
16
July 2024
•
420
Dr Steven Brennan
Talc, widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food processing, is classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A).
Talc powder
Quick prompts

AI Generated

Get to the point quicker with prompts - a smarter way to get the information you need from our articles.

Summarise this article

AI Assistant

This feature and much more is available on our platform. If you would like early access, please leave your email and we'll get in touch.

We'll be in touch when the Assistant is ready.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Mountains

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), has released its latest findings on the carcinogenicity of talc and acrylonitrile. These assessments are detailed in the recently published Volume 136 of the IARC Monographs, following a comprehensive review by a panel of 29 experts from 13 countries.

Acrylonitrile: Group 1 Carcinogen

Acrylonitrile has been classified as "carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1) by the IARC Working Group. This classification is based on sufficient evidence for its ability to cause lung cancer and limited evidence for bladder cancer in humans. Acrylonitrile is a volatile organic compound primarily used in the production of polymers such as polyacrylonitrile and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, which are used in textiles, plastics, and synthetic rubber.

Exposure to acrylonitrile occurs mainly through inhalation of cigarette smoke, both first-hand and second-hand, as well as air pollution. Occupational exposure is prevalent among workers involved in the production of acrylonitrile and its polymers. Studies have shown a significant association between acrylonitrile exposure and an increased rate of lung cancer mortality, with a large cohort study indicating a clear exposure-response relationship.

Talc: Group 2A Carcinogen

Talc, a naturally occurring mineral widely used in various industries, including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food processing, has been classified as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A). This classification follows a review of limited evidence linking talc to ovarian cancer in humans, sufficient evidence of cancer in experimental animals, and strong mechanistic evidence demonstrating talc's carcinogenic properties.

Talc exposure primarily occurs through the use of talc-containing products such as body powders and cosmetics. There are concerns about asbestos contamination in talc, which complicates the assessment of its carcinogenicity. Despite these challenges, studies consistently show an increased incidence of ovarian cancer among women using talc-based body powders. However, a definitive causal relationship could not be fully established due to potential biases and confounding factors.

Significance and Future Research

These evaluations highlight the carcinogenic potential of acrylonitrile and talc, underscoring the need for stringent regulations and further research to mitigate risks associated with these substances. The IARC Monographs aim to identify cancer hazards and provide a basis for public health decisions and policies.

For more detailed information, the findings are published in The Lancet Oncology and will be comprehensively detailed in Volume 136 of the IARC Monographs, set for publication in 2025.

Read the source story

Read this article now for free!

You have read 3 articles.
Create a free account
or
Log in
to finish reading this article now.

Subscribe to our weekly digest

Sign up to receive our newsletter every Tuesday and get access to all of our content.

By creating an account, you agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
This is some text inside of a div block.

Trusted by professionals at

Dupont
ECHA - European Chemicals Agency
Energizer
Chemours
This is some text inside of a div block.

Get Foresight Today

Stay compliant, reduce risk, and protect your business with our AI-powered chemical policy monitoring—tailored just for you.

Global monitoring of 1,200+ sources
Expert-reviewed, trusted regulatory alerts
Instant risk identification for 350k+ substances

Ready to supercharge your policy monitoring workflow?

We’ll be in touch soon with more details and support to help you get started.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Share with a friend
Copy link

Related Articles

EU parliamentEU Water Resilience Strategy Gains Momentum as MEPs Demand PFAS Phase-Out and Digital Upgrades

May 9, 2025

Chemicals productionEU Chemical Industry Faces Weak Q1 2025 as Energy Costs Undermine Competitiveness

May 9, 2025

EU ParliamentENVI Committee Pushes EU PFAS Ban Forward with Strong Political Backing

May 2, 2025

Foresight regulatory experts
Streamline your chemical compliance
Easy-to-use product compliance management for small and mid-sized manufacturers — mitigate risk and protect market access.
Get started
Subscribe to Foresight's newsletter
Stay ahead with the latest news & insights
Join 1,000s of compliance professionals getting the latest insights right to their inbox for free, every Tuesday.
100% free. No spam. Unsubscribe any time.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Stay ahead with the latest news & insights
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter covering news, events, and expert insights.

Related articles

EU parliament

EU Water Resilience Strategy Gains Momentum as MEPs Demand PFAS Phase-Out and Digital Upgrades

MEPs back the EU Water Resilience Strategy, calling for PFAS phase-out, digital solutions, and funding—key compliance watchpoints for industry.

9

May 2025

General
Chemicals production

EU Chemical Industry Faces Weak Q1 2025 as Energy Costs Undermine Competitiveness

EU chemical industry struggles in Q1 2025 as energy costs and weak demand hinder growth. Find out what this means for your value chain.

9

May 2025

General
UK parliament

UK Government Unveils Major Regulatory Reform to Boost Growth

The UK Government is cutting business compliance costs by 25% through regulatory reforms in manufacturing, chemicals, and infrastructure.

2

May 2025

General
Foresight
Providing critical insights, analysis, and guidance to help businesses anticipate changes, make informed decisions, and stay ahead.
News & Insights
Newsletter
Legislation Hub
Coverage
Contact
About
© 2025 Foresight. All rights reserved.
SitemapTerms of servicePrivacy policyCookie policy