Table 4.
Evidence of carcinogenicity as concluded by the IARC for some chemicals whose main pathway of human exposure is through drinking water [modified from the General Remarks to IARC Monograph, Volume 101 (IARC 2012b)].
| Agent | Human evidence | Animal evidence | Overall evaluationa (group) | IARC Monograph |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elements | ||||
| Arsenic | Sufficient | Sufficient | 1 | Vol. 100 C (IARC 2012a) |
| Fluoride | Inadequate | Inadequate | 3 | Suppl. 7 (IARC 1987) |
| Nitrate | Inadequate | Inadequate/sufficientb | 2Ac | Vol. 94 (IARC 2010) |
| Microcystin-LR | Inadequate | Inadequate | 2B | Vol. 94 (IARC 2010) |
| DBPs: Trihalomethanes | ||||
| Chloroform | Inadequate | Sufficient | 2B | Vol. 73 (IARC 1999) |
| Bromodichloromethane | Inadequate | Sufficient | 2B | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Dibromochloromethane | Inadequate | Limited | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Bromoform | Inadequate | Limited | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| DBPs: Haloacetic acids | ||||
| Dichloroacetic acid | Inadequate | Sufficient | 2B | Vol. 106 (IARC 2013) |
| Trichloroacetic acid | Inadequate | Sufficient | 2B | Vol. 106 (IARC 2013) |
| Bromochloroacetic acid | Inadequate | Sufficient | 2B | Vol. 101 (IARC 2012b) |
| Dibromoacetic acid | Inadequate | Sufficient | 2B | Vol. 101 (IARC 2012b) |
| DBPs: Halogenated acetonitriles | ||||
| Bromochloroacetonitrile | No data | Inadequate | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Chloroacetonitrile | No data | Inadequate | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Dibromoacetonitrile | No data | Inadequate | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Dichloroacetonitrile | No data | Inadequate | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Trichloroacetonitrile | No data | Inadequate | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Dibromoacetonitrile | No data | Sufficient | 2B | Vol. 101 (IARC 2012b) |
| Chloral hydrate | Inadequate | Sufficient | 2A | Vol. 106 (IARC 2013) |
| MX (3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone) | Inadequate | Limited | 2Bd | Vol. 84 (IARC 2004) |
| Bromate (evaluated as potassium bromate) | Inadequate | Sufficient | 2B | Vol. 73 (IARC 1999) |
| Chlorite (evaluated as sodium chlorite) | No data | Inadequate | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Chlorinated drinking water | Inadequate | Inadequate | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Chemicals used in the disinfection of drinking water | ||||
| Hypochlorite salts | No data | Inadequate | 3 | Vol. 52 (IARC 1991) |
| Chloramine | Inadequate | Inadequate | 3 | Vol. 84 (IARC 2004) |
| aGroup 1 (the agent is carcinogenic to humans), 2A (the agent is probably carcinogenic to humans), 2B (the agent is possibly carcinogenic to humans), 3 (the agent is not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans). bThere is sufficient evidence in experimental animals for the carcinogenicity of nitrite in combination with amines or amides. cIngested nitrate or nitrite under conditions that result in endogenous nitrosation is probably carcinogenic to humans. dOther relevant data were used to upgrade the evaluation. | ||||