Table 1. Occupational agents, groups of agents, mixtures, and exposure circumstances classified by the IARC Monographs, Vols 1–97 (IARC, 1972–2008), into Groups 1 and 2A, which have the pharynx, nasopharynx, nasal cavity and parasinuses as target and for which burden has been estimated.
| Agents, mixture, circumstance | Main industry, use | Evidence of carcinogenicity in humans | Source of data for estimation of numbers ever exposed over the REP | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1: Carcinogenic to humans | ||||
| Agents, groups of agents | ||||
| Formaldehyde | Production; pathologists; medical laboratory technicians; plastics; textile industry | Nasopharynx sufficient Other pharynx; nasal cavity; parasinuses limited | CAREX | |
| Wood dust | Logging and sawmill workers; pulp and paper, and paperboard industry; woodworking trades (e.g., furniture industries, cabinet making, carpentry and construction); used as a filler in plastic and linoleum production | Nasal cavity; parasinuses sufficient Nasopharynx suggestive Other pharynx limited | CAREX | |
| Chromium VI | Chromate production plants dyes and pigments; plating and engraving; chromium ferro-alloy production; stainless-steel welding; in wood preservatives; leather tanning; water treatment; inks; photography; lithography; drilling muds; synthetic perfumes; pyrotechnics; corrosion resistance | Nasal cavity; parasinuses sufficient | CAREX | Processes changed in the United Kingdom in 1958–1960, so included for pre 1960 exposures only |
| Nickel compounds | Nickel refining and smelting; welding | Nasal cavity; parasinuses sufficient | Sorahan and Williams (2005) | 812 Workers first employed in the period 1953–1992 with at least 5 years of employment at Clydach |
| Mineral oils | Production; used as lubricant by metal workers, machinists, engineers, printing industry (ink formulation); used in cosmetics, medicinal and pharmaceutical preparations | Nasal cavity; parasinuses sufficient | LFS | |
| Exposure circumstances | ||||
| Boot and shoe manufacture and repair (leather dust) | Leather dust; benzene and other solvents | Nasal cavity; parasinuses sufficient | CoE | |
| Furniture and cabinet making | Wood dust | Nasal cavity; parasinuses sufficient | Considered with wood dust | |
Abbreviations: CAREX=CARcinogen EXposure database; CoE=Census of Employment; IARC=International Agency for Research on Cancer; LFS=Labour Force Survey; REP=risk exposure period.