Report on Carcinogens (RoC)
The Report on Carcinogens (RoC) is a comprehensive document published periodically by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Its primary purpose is to identify substances that are known or reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in humans, based on established scientific evidence. The RoC categorizes these substances into two main groups: those "known to be human carcinogens" and those "reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens." Each edition of the report, starting from its first publication in 1980, includes detailed profiles on these substances, including relevant regulations aimed at reducing exposure risks.
The process for including substances in the RoC involves public nominations and rigorous reviews by scientific committees, taking into account various research studies and public feedback. Agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Cancer Institute also participate in this evaluation process. While the RoC aims to present factual information on carcinogenic substances, it has limitations, including a focus solely on substances with significant public exposure and an exclusion of analyses related to the benefits versus risks of those substances. Overall, the RoC serves as a crucial resource for understanding the relationship between various substances and cancer risk in the United States.
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Report on Carcinogens (RoC)
ALSO KNOWN AS: RoC
DEFINITION: The Report on Carcinogens (RoC) is a United States (US) government document issued by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), which identifies and profiles substances that are known to cause cancer (carcinogens) or that are reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in a significant number of persons residing in the United States. The DHHS publishes it every few years to comply with the Public Health Service Act, Section 301(b)(4). The first edition was published in 1980. The 15th edition of the RoC was published in December 2021 and contained eight new carcinogens.
Content: The RoC lists substances for which there is published scientific evidence establishing a relationship between exposure to the substance and the development of cancer. The substances are categorized as “known to be human carcinogens” or “reasonably anticipated to be human carcinogens” based on human and laboratory animal studies and epidemiological studies.
The report presents information on each substance. It identifies regulations and guidelines pertaining to the substance and discusses how they decrease the risk of exposure. All substances nominated for review are included in the report, with explanations of why they were included in or excluded from the list.
Review process: The process begins with a substance being nominated for review. Requests for RoC nominations are published in the Federal Registry. Sources include the public, other agencies, and reviews of scientific literature.
Several scientific committees within the Department of Health and Human Services review a nomination. When making recommendations, these committees consider background information, additional literature searches, and public comments. The department secretary makes the final review and approval before submitting the report to Congress.
Affiliated agencies: Agencies that are involved with the nomination and review process are the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NTP (NIEHS/NTP).
Limitations: It is important to note that the RoC has certain limitations. For instance, it will not include a substance if exposure is limited to a small number of people. The report also does not discuss the benefits of a substance versus its risk of causing cancer, nor does it provide the specific conditions under which a substance will cause cancer to develop. These limitations are in place to maintain the report's focus on presenting technical and scientific information supported by facts, rather than delving into the many variables involved in cancer development.
Bibliography
“Announcement of Availability of the Fifteenth Report on Carcinogens.” Federal Register, 23 Dec. 2021, www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/12/23/2021-27910/announcement-of-availability-of-the-fifteenth-report-on-carcinogens. Accessed 24 June 2024.
“Eight Substances Added to the 15th Report on Carcinogens.” The ASCO Post, 23 Dec. 2021, ascopost.com/news/december-2021/eight-substances-added-to-the-15th-report-on-carcinogens. Accessed 24 June 2024.
“15th Report on Carcinogens.” National Toxicology Program, 21 Dec. 2021, ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/cancer/roc. Accessed 24 June 2024.
“History of the Report on Carcinogens.” National Toxicology Program, 7 Mar. 2023, ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/cancer/history. Accessed 24 June 2024.
“Known and Probable Human Carcinogens.” American Cancer Society, 25 Mar. 2024, www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/understanding-cancer-risk/known-and-probable-human-carcinogens.html. Accessed 24 June 2024.