List of Cancer-Causing Agents Grows

[Guest guest]

Science in the News

List of Cancer-Causing Agents Grows

The Department of Health and Human Services released its Eleventh Edition

of

the Report on Carcinogens last week, adding seventeen substances to the

growing list of cancer-causing agents, bringing the total to 246. For the

first time ever, viruses are listed in the report: hepatitis B virus,

hepatitis C virus, and some human papillomaviruses that cause common

sexually transmitted diseases. Other new listings include lead and lead

compounds, X-rays, compounds found in grilled meats, and a host of

substances used in textile dyes, paints and inks.

"Among U.S. residents, 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women will develop cancer at

some point in their lifetimes. Research shows that environmental factors

trigger diseases like cancer, especially when someone has a family

history,"

Kenneth Olden, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Environmental

Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program said.

The Report on Carcinogens, Eleventh Edition, referred to as the "RoC,"

lists

cancer-causing agents in two categories - "known to be human carcinogens"

and "reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens." The report now

contains 58 "known" and 188 "reasonably anticipated" listings. Federal

law

requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to

publish the report every two years.

Six substances have been added to the "known" category:

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are viruses that

cause

acute or chronic liver disease. They are listed in the report as "known

human carcinogens" because studies in humans show that chronic hepatitis

B

and hepatitis C infections cause liver cancer. Approximately one million

United States residents are chronically infected with HBV, which

primarily

is transmitted through sexual contact (50%) and intravenous drug use

(15%).

HCV is the leading cause of liver disease in the United States with more

than three million people infected. The major risk factor for hepatitis C

infection is illegal intravenous drug use, which accounts for 60 percent

of

acute infections in adults. The incidence of both hepatitis B and

hepatitis

C infections is decreasing among United States residents. A vaccine is

available for preventing hepatitis B infection but not hepatitis C

infection. Infections can also be prevented by screening blood supplies,

and

by reducing contact with contaminated fluids in health care settings.

Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are viruses that are sexually transmitted

and

can infect genital and mucous membranes. Some of these genital mucosal

type

HPVs are listed in the report as "known human carcinogens" because

studies

show they cause cervical cancer in women. Approximately 20 million people

in

the United States are infected with genital HPVs, and 5.5 million new

infections occur each year. Most people infected do not have symptoms,

but

some develop genital warts or cervical abnormalities.

X-radiation and gamma-radiation are listed in the report as "known human

carcinogens" because human studies show that exposure to these kinds of

radiation causes many types of cancer including leukemia and cancers of

the

thyroid, breast and lung. The risk of developing cancers due to these

forms

of ionizing radiation depends to some extent on age at the time of

exposure.

Childhood exposure is linked to an increased risk for leukemia and

thyroid

cancer. Exposure during reproductive years increases the risk for breast

cancer, and exposure later in life increases risk for lung cancer.

Exposure

to X-radiation and gamma radiation has also been shown to cause cancer of

the salivary glands, stomach, colon, bladder, ovaries, central nervous

system and skin.

Eleven substances have also been added to the "reasonably anticipated"

category.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

vanokat.wholefoodfarmacy.com/ "When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that glorifies it."

Fredric Bastiat, "The Law", 1846

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

** Offert par Passion Matilda **