IARC
Monographs On the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans
The IARC Monographs identify environmental factors that can increase the risk of human cancer. These include chemicals, complex mixtures, occupational exposures, physical and biological agents, and lifestyle factors. National health agencies use this information as scientific support for their actions to prevent exposure to potential carcinogens.
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. The working group assign a rating to the agent that indicates the weight of the evidence for causation of cancer.
Since 1971, more than 900 agents have been evaluated, of which approximately 400 have been identified as carcinogenic or potentially carcinogenic to humans
The International Agency for Research on Cancer was established in May, 1965, through a resolution of the XVIIIth World Health Assembly, as an extension of the World Health Organization. As a WHO Agency, IARC follows the general governing rules of the UN family. Its research programme is regularly reviewed by a Scientific Council. The Scientific Council consists of highly qualified scientists, selected on the basis of their technical competence in cancer research and allied fields. Members of the Scientific Council are appointed as experts and not as representatives of Participating States.