The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released its 14th "Report on Carcinogens," featuring seven newly reviewed substances, amounting to a sum of 248 carcinogens on the list.
New elements include a chemical (trichloroethylene or TCE) and metallic element (cobalt and cobalt compounds). This cobalt metal occurs in vivo ions.
The five new viruses on the list are human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1, human immunodeficiency virus type 1, Kaposi sarcoma-associated herpesvirus, Epstein-Barr virus and Merkel cell polyomavirus.
“Given that approximately 12 percent of human cancers worldwide may be attributed to viruses, and there are no vaccines currently available for these five viruses, prevention strategies to reduce the infections that can lead to cancer are even more critical,” Dr. Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and National Toxicology Program (NTP), said. “The listings in this report, particularly the viruses, bring attention to the important role that prevention can play in reducing the world’s cancer burden. There are also things people can do to reduce their exposure to cobalt and TCE.”
The HHS "Report on Carcinogens," a congressionally mandated report, is from the NTP for the HHS Secretary. It outlines the various kinds of environmental factors or substances that are known as human carcinogens or expected to become human carcinogens.
