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 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.
Advisory Group to Recommend Priorities for the IARC Monographs during 2020–2024
29 May 2018
The Advisory Group to Recommend Priorities for the IARC Monographs during 2020–2024 will meet in Lyon on 25–27 March 2019. For details, please see Upcoming Meetings.
Advisory Group to Recommend an Update to the Preamble
17 May 2018
We are pleased to announce that a Q&A; document relating to the Advisory Group to Recommend an Update to the Preamble is now available online. The Call for Public Comments is now open, and comments should be submitted online using the Public Comments Form.
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).
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
