Interdisciplinary working groups of expert scientists review the published studies and evaluate the weight of the evidence that an agent can increase the risk of cancer. The principles, procedures, and scientific criteria that guide the evaluations are described in the Preamble to the IARC Monographs.
Since 1971, more than 900 agents have been evaluated, of which more than 400 have been identified as carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, or possibly carcinogenic to humans.
For answers to commonly asked questions on the evaluation process, read the IARC Monographs Q&A.
The IARC Monographs have received funding from:
- United States National Cancer Institute (Cooperative Agreement 5-U01-CA33193)
- United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
- European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs, and Inclusion (initially from the Unit of Health, Safety and Hygiene at Work, and since 2014 from the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation, EaSI)
Monographs News
Volume 110: Some Chemicals Used as Solvents and in Polymer Manufacture
22 December 2016 We are pleased to announce that this volume of the IARC Monographs is now available in its entirety online.
Champion of Environmental Health Research Award
4 November 2016 We are pleased to announce that Dr Kurt Straif, Head of the Section of IARC Monographs, is one of 12 recipients of the first-ever Champion of Environmental Health Research Award. The awards are presented by the United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) to recognize outstanding researchers, leaders, and communicators who have contributed to the NIEHS mission of discovering how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives. The awards were presented on 1 November at the NIEHS campus, to celebrate the institute's 50th anniversary. Read more.
Volume 120: Benzene
3 November 2016 We are pleased to announce that Meeting 120: "Benzene" will be held on 10-17 October 2017. For details, please see Upcoming Meetings.
Volume 117: Pentachlorophenol and Some Related Compounds
24 October 2016
A summary of the evaluations has now been published in The Lancet Oncology: article; PDF.
Read the IARC news item.
Meeting 119: Some Chemicals in Food and Consumer Products
1 August 2016 We are pleased to announce that Meeting 119: "Some Chemicals in Food and Consumer Products" will be held on 6-13 June 2017. For details, please see Upcoming Meetings.
Volume 113: 2,4-D and Some Organochlorine Insecticides
25 July 2016 We are pleased to announce that the Monograph on 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is now available online. The remaining Monographs of Volume 113 will be published subsequently.
Monographs Publications
IARC Monographs, Volume 100
Review of Human Carcinogens (Package of 6 volumes A,B,C,D,E,F)
25 June 2012 Volume 100 compiles information on tumour sites and mechanisms of carcinogenesis. About half of the agents classified in Group 1 were last reviewed more than 20 years ago, before mechanistic studies became prominent in evaluations of carcinogenicity. In addition, more recent epidemiological studies and animal cancer bioassays have demonstrated that many cancer hazards reported in earlier studies were later observed in other organs or through different exposure scenarios. Available at WHO Press
- News
- Meetings
- Classifications
- Publications
- Monographs online
- Volume 113
- Volume 112
- Volume 110
- Volume 109
- Volume 108
- Volume 107
- Volume 106
- Volume 105
- Volume 104
- Volume 103
- Volume 102
- Volume 101
- Volume 100F
- Supplementary Web Tables
- Dyes Metabolized to Benzidine
- 2-Naphthylamine
- ortho-Toluidine
- Auramine and Auramine Production
- Magenta and Magenta Production
- Coal Gasification
- Coal-tar Pitch
- Coke Production
- Mineral Oils
- Soot
- Occupational Exposures during Aluminium Production
- Aflatoxins
- Benzene
- Bis(chloromethyl)ether and Chloromethyl Methyl Ether
- 1,3-Butadiene
- 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, and PCB 126
- Ethylene Oxide
- Formaldehyde
- Sulfur Mustard
- Vinyl Chloride
- Isopropyl Alcohol Manufacture by the Strong-acid Process
- Mists from Strong Inorganic Acids
- Occupational Exposures during Iron and Steel Founding
- Occupational Exposure as a Painter
- Occupational Exposure in the Rubber Manufacturing Industry
- Dyes Metabolized to Benzidine
- Supplementary Web Tables
- Volume 100E
- Volume 100D
- Volume 100C
- Volume 100B
- Volume 100A
- Volume 99
- Volume 98
- Volume 97
- Volume 96
- Volume 95
- Volume 94
- Volume 93
- Volume 92
- Volume 91
- Volume 90
- Volume 89
- Volume 88
- Volume 87
- Volume 86
- Volume 85
- Volume 84
- Volume 83
- Volume 82
- Volume 81
- Volume 80
- Volume 79
- Volume 78
- Volume 77
- Volume 76
- Volume 75
- Volume 74
- Volume 73
- Volume 72
- Volume 71
- Volume 70
- Volume 69
- Volume 68
- Volume 67
- Volume 66
- Volume 65
- Volume 64
- Volume 63
- Volume 62
- Volume 61
- Volume 60
- Volume 59
- Volume 58
- Volume 57
- Volume 56
- Volume 55
- Volume 54
- Volume 53
- Volume 52
- Volume 51
- Volume 50
- Volume 49
- Volume 48
- Volume 47
- Volume 46
- Volume 45
- Volume 44
- Volume 43
- Volumes 1 - 42
- Supplement No. 7
- Supplement No. 4
- Supplement No. 1
- Volume 113
- Supplements
- Related Publications
- Cumulative Cross Index
- List of Volumes
- Corrigenda
- Monographs online
- Preamble
- Staff