By Nneka Nwogwugwu
Eight cancer-causing substances, including a chronic bacterial infection, a flame retardant, and six water disinfection byproducts, have been added to the Report on Carcinogens.
This has brought it to the total list of 256 substances known, or reasonably anticipated, to cause cancer in humans.
The 15th Report on Carcinogens, which is a cumulative report, mandated by the United States Congress and prepared by the National Toxicology Programme (NTP) for the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was published on Wednesday in the journal Nature.
Release of the report coincides with the 50th anniversary of the U.S. National Cancer Act of 1971, which initiated the nation’s war on cancer.
In the new report, chronic infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is listed as a human carcinogen.
The flame-retardant chemical, antimony trioxide, and six haloacetic acids (HAAs) found as water disinfection byproducts are anticipated to be carcinogenic.
Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and NTP, Dr. Rick Woychik, said: “Cancer affects almost everyone’s life, either directly or indirectly. As the identification of carcinogens is a key step in cancer prevention, publication of the report represents an important government activity towards improving public health.”
The Report on Carcinogens identifies many different environmental factors, collectively called substances, including chemicals; infectious agents, such as viruses; physical agents, such as X-rays and ultraviolet radiation; and exposure scenarios.
The report does not include estimates of cancer risk because many factors affect whether a person will or will not develop cancer.
These include the carcinogenic potency of the substance, the level and duration of exposure, and an individual’s susceptibility to the carcinogenic action of the substance.
Source: Guardian Nigeria