IARC Monographs: Volume 133: Anthracene, 2-bromopropane, butyl methacrylate, and dimethyl hydrogen phosphite

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs 133 contains an assessment on the carcinogenicity of four substances: 2-bromopropane, butyl methacrylate, anthracene, and dimethyl hydrogen phosphite. Two of the substances were evaluated for the first time and classified as probably carcinogenic to humans. Anthracene, a high-production-volume polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon used in the manufacture of dyes, pigments, and pesticides, was also classified as possibly carcinogenic. The working group based on their classifications on sufficient evidence of cancer in experimental animals and limited or inadequate mechanistic evidence, but data on exposure levels were sparse and no epidemiological studies on cancer in humans were available. The publication of these findings highlights the importance of continued research and regulation in the use of these substances to minimize the risk of cancer in humans.