Cancers with sufficient evidence in humans | Agents | Number of occurrences | % |
Lung | Bis(chloromethyl)ether; chloromethyl methyl ether (technical -grade); cCoal-tar pitch; sSulfur mustard; aArsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds; bBeryllium and beryllium compounds; cCadmium and cadmium compounds; cChromium (VI) compounds; nNickel compounds; aAsbestos (all forms, including actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite); pParticulate matter in outdoor air pollution; sSilica dust, crystalline, in the form of quartz or cristobalite; sSoot; wWelding fumes; eEngine exhaust, diesel; oOutdoor air pollution; tTobacco smoke, second-handsecondhand; X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation; pPlutonium; rRadon-222 and its decay products | 19 | 23 |
Skin | Coal-tar pitch; mMineral oils, untreated or mildly treated; sShale oils; aArsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds; sSoot; X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation; sSolar radiation; uUltraviolet radiation | 8 | 10 |
Bone, including mastoid process | X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation; pPlutonium; rRadium-224 and its decay products; rRadium-226 and its decay products; rRadium-226 and its decay products | 5 | 6 |
Haematolymphatic system, including leukaemia, NHL | 1,3-Butadiene; bBenzene; cCoal-tar pitch; X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation; fFormaldehyde; lLindane; pPentachlorophenol | 7 | 9 |
Leukaemia | Benzene; cCoal-tar pitch; X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation | 3 | 4 |
Non-Hodgkin lymphomanNon-Hodgkin’s lymphoma | Formaldehyde; lLindane; pPentachlorophenol | 3 | 4 |
Urinary bladder | ortho-Toluidine; aArsenic and inorganic arsenic compounds; X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation; 2-nNaphthylamine; 4-aAminobiphenyl; bBenzidiene | 6 | 7 |
Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus | Acid mists, strong inorganic; cChromium (VI) compounds; lLeather dust; nNickel compounds; wWood dust | 5 | 6 |
Thyroid | X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation; rRadioiodines, including iodine-131 | 2 | 2 |
Breast | X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation | 1 | 1 |
Kidney | Trichloroethylene; X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation | 2 | 2 |
Larynx | Asbestos (all forms, including actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite); aAcid mists, strong inorganic | 2 | 2 |
Liver | Plutonium; vVinyl chloride | 2 | 2 |
Nasopharynx | Formaldehyde; wWood dust | 2 | 2 |
All cancers combined | 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin | 1 | 1 |
Biliary tract | 1,2-Dichloropropane | 1 | 1 |
Brain and central nervous system | X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation | 1 | 1 |
Colon | X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation | 1 | 1 |
EsophagusOesophagus | X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation | 1 | 1 |
Eye | Ultraviolet radiation | 1 | 1 |
Malignant melanoma | Polychlorinated biphenyls | 1 | 1 |
Mesothelioma | Asbestos (all forms, including actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite) | 1 | 1 |
Ovary | Asbestos (all forms, including actinolite, amosite, anthophyllite, chrysotile, crocidolite, tremolite) | 1 | 1 |
Salivary gland | X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation | 1 | 1 |
Stomach | X-radiation and gGamma-rRadiation | 1 | 1 |
Total | 82 | 100 |
IARC, International Agency for Research on Cancer; NHL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma.