Interdisciplinary working groups of expert scientists review the published studies and evaluate the weight of the evidence that an agent can increase the risk of cancer. The principles, procedures, and scientific criteria that guide the evaluations are described in the Preamble to the IARC Monographs.
Since 1971, more than 1000 agents have been evaluated, of which more than 400 have been identified as carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, or possibly carcinogenic to humans.
For answers to commonly asked questions on the evaluation process, read the IARC Monographs Q&A.
The IARC Monographs have received funding from:
- United States National Cancer Institute (Cooperative Agreement 5-U01-CA33193)
- United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion (initially from the Unit of Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work, and since 2014 from the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation, EaSI)
Monographs News
Volume 115: Some Industrial Chemicals
24 April 2018
We are pleased to announce that Volume 115 of the IARC Monographs is now available online. This volume includes monographs on 1-bromopropane, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 3-chloro-2-methylpropene, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine, hydrazine, and tetrabromobisphenol A.
Volume 121: Styrene, Styrene-7,8-oxide, and Quinoline
18 April 2018
A summary of the evaluations has now been published in The Lancet Oncology: article; PDF.
Application of the Key Characteristics of Carcinogens
3 April 2018
We are pleased to announce the publication of the article Application of the key characteristics of carcinogens in cancer hazard identification (Guyton et al., 2018).
Volume 114: Red Meat and Processed Meat
29 March 2018
We are pleased to announce that Volume 114 of the IARC Monographs is now available online.
Advisory Group to Recommend an Update to the Preamble
2 February 2018
In 2018, IARC will amend the Preamble to the IARC Monographs. The Preamble describes the principles and procedures used in developing IARC Monographs, including the scientific criteria that guide the evaluations. The Preamble is periodically updated. The objective is to reflect scientific developments and procedural changes that have occurred since the Preamble was last amended in 2006. For details, please see Upcoming Meetings.
Volume 113: DDT, Lindane, and 2,4-D
22 December 2017
We are pleased to announce that Volume 113 of the IARC Monographs is now available in its entirety online.
Monographs Publications
IARC Monographs, Volume 100
Review of Human Carcinogens (Package of 6 volumes A,B,C,D,E,F)
25 June 2012 Volume 100 compiles information on tumour sites and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. About half of the agents classified in Group 1 were last reviewed more than 20 years ago, before mechanistic studies became prominent in evaluations of carcinogenicity. In addition, more recent epidemiological studies and animal cancer bioassays have demonstrated that many cancer hazards reported in earlier studies were later observed in other organs or through different exposure scenarios. Available at WHO Press
