Carcinogenicity of talc and acrylonitrile

Stayner LT, Carreón-Valencia T, Demers PA, Fritz JM, Sim MR, Stewart P, Tsuda H, Cardenas A, Consonni D, Davies L, De Matteis S, Felley-Bosco E, Ghio AJ, Göen T, Grosse Y, Gualtieri AF, Josephy PD, Koutros S, Linhart I, Louro H, O’Brien KM, Panzacchi S, Peña L, Rössner P, Schildkraut JM, Stefaniak AB, Wentzensen N, Wild P, Xu Y, de Conti A, Facchin C, Wedekind R, Ahmadi A, Blanco J, Chittiboyina S, Kulasingam S, MacLehose R, Motlhale M, Shah S, Suonio E, Mattock H, Kunzmann A, Madia F, Pasqual E, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Schubauer-Berigan MK. Carcinogenicity of talc and acrylonitrile. The Lancet Oncology. 2024;25(8):962-963. doi:10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00384-X

Abstract: In June 2024, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, convened a group of 29 scientists from 13 countries to evaluate the cancer-causing potential of two substances: talc and acrylonitrile. Talc is a mineral commonly used in products like baby powder, cosmetics, and various industrial materials. The IARC classified talc as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A). Acrylonitrile is a chemical used in manufacturing plastics, synthetic rubber, and other materials. The IARC classified it as “carcinogenic to humans” (Group 1), the highest level of certainty. People can be exposed to acrylonitrile through industrial work environments, cigarette smoke, and air pollution.  These evaluations aim to inform public health decisions and raise awareness about potential cancer risks associated with these substances.