Interdisciplinary working groups of expert scientists review the published studies and assess the strength of the available evidence that an agent can cause cancer in humans. 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.
Read the IARC Monographs Q&A for answers to commonly asked questions on the evaluation process.
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
Advisory Group recommendations on priorities for the IARC Monographs programme during 2020–2024
18 April 2019 A summary of the Advisory Group recommendations has now been published in The Lancet Oncology: article; PDF.
Meeting 126 “Opium” is announced
27 March 2019 Lyon, 24–31 March 2020 15 March 2019We are pleased to announce that IARC Scientific Publication No. 165: Tumour Site Concordance and Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis is now available online. This volume reports on a two-part Workshop convened by IARC in 2012 and reviews the information on cancer sites and mechanistic events for all the agents classified in Group 1 in IARC Monographs up to and including Volume 109.
For details, please see
IARC Scientific Publication No. 165: Tumour Site Concordance and Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis
Volume 119: Some Chemicals That Cause Tumours of the Urinary Tract in Rodents
20 February 2019 We are pleased to announce that the Monograph on Some Chemicals That Cause Tumours of the Urinary Tract in Rodents is now available online. This volume includes seven monographs: 1-tert-butoxypropan-2-ol, β-myrcene, furfuryl alcohol, melamine, pyridine, tetrahydrofuran, and vinylidene chloride.
Volume 117: Pentachlorophenol and Some Related Compounds
31 January 2019 We are pleased to announce that the Monograph on Pentachlorophenol and Some Related Compounds is now available online. This volume includes four monographs: pentachlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 3,3′,4,4′-tetrachloroazobenzene, and aldrin and dieldrin.
2019 Revised Preamble to the IARC Monographs
17 January 2019 We are pleased to announce that the 2019 revised Preamble to the IARC Monographs is now available online.
Meeting 125 “Some Industrial Chemicals” is announced
21 December 2018 Lyon, 5–11 November 2019
For details, please see Upcoming Meetings.
Volume 120: Benzene
20 December 2018 We are pleased to announce that the Monograph on Benzene is now available online.
Meeting of the Advisory Group to Recommend Priorities for the IARC Monographs during 2020–2024
14 December 2018 The closing date for nominations of agents for consideration by the Advisory Group has been extended to 15 January 2019. For details, please see Upcoming Meetings.
Volume 123: Some Nitrobenzenes and Other Industrial Chemicals
2 November 2018 A summary of the evaluations has now been published in The Lancet Oncology: article; PDF.
Meeting 124 “Shift Work That Involves Circadian Disruption” is announced
14 August 2018 Lyon, 4–11 June 2019
For details, please see Upcoming Meetings.
Advisory Group to Recommend an Update to the Preamble
7 August 2018 IARC is soliciting expert input via a scientific webinar, to be held between 15:00 and 18:00 (CEST) on 17 September 2018. For further details, see Call for Public Comments.
Volume 118: Welding, Molybdenum Trioxide, and Indium Tin Oxide
30 July 2018 We are pleased to announce that Volume 118 of the IARC Monographs is now available online. This volume includes three monographs: welding, molybdenum trioxide, and indium tin oxide.
Volume 122: Isobutyl Nitrite, β-Picoline, and Some Acrylates
29 June 2018 A summary of the evaluations has now been published in The Lancet Oncology: article; PDF.
Volume 116: Drinking Coffee, Mate, and Very Hot Beverages
13 June 2018 We are pleased to announce that Volume 116 of the IARC Monographs is now available online. This volume includes two monographs: drinking coffee, and drinking mate and very hot beverages.
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
IARC Monographs,
Volume 109
Outdoor Air Pollution
IARC Monographs,
Volume 108
Some Drugs and Herbal Products
of Cancer Prevention
