Beryllium, Cadmium, Mercury, and exposures in the glass manufacturing industry: IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans

Evaluates the carcinogenic risk to humans posed by exposure to selected metals and their compounds. Separate monographs are presented for beryllium and beryllium compounds, cadmium and cadmium compounds, and mercury and inorganic and methylmercury compounds. Because several metallic salts and pigments are used in the manufacture and colouring of certain glass products, the book also evaluates the carcinogenic risk posed by exposures in the glass manufacturing industry. More than 1,200 references to the recent literature are included. The first monograph evaluates biological and epidemiological data on metallic beryllium, beryllium-aluminium and -copper alloys, and some beryllium compounds. Data from studies in humans and several well-designed animal investigations support the conclusion that beryllium and beryllium compounds are carcinogenic to humans. The monograph on cadmium and cadmium compounds gives particular attention to new analyses of epidemiological cohorts and new studies in experimental animals. These data support the conclusion that cadmium and cadmium compounds are carcinogenic to humans. The monograph on mercury and mercury compounds classifies methylmercury compounds as possibly carcinogenic to humans. Metallic mercury and inorganic mercury compounds could not be classified. Citing evidence from recent cohort studies, the monograph on exposures in the glass manufacturing industry concludes that the manufacture of art glass, glass containers, and pressed ware entails exposures that are probably carcinogenic to humans. Occupational exposures in flat-glass and special glass manufacture could not be classified as to their carcinogenicity to humans.