Ethylene oxide and cancer: is the evidence for its carcinogenicity conclusive?(Editorial)

Publication: Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Publication Date: 01-JAN-04

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COPYRIGHT 2004 British Medical Association

For decades, ethylene oxide (ETO) has attracted considerable research interest as a direct alkylating agent and likely human carcinogen. Nevertheless, the epidemiological findings from occupationally exposed populations have not been convincingly strong and consistent to permit Working Groups of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) to conclude, in the terminology used, that there is sufficient rather than limited evidence that exposure to ETO causes cancer in humans. In 1994, ETO was nevertheless upgraded in the overall evaluation from group 2A to group 1--that is, from being probably carcinogenic to humans to be a human carcinogen as based on supporting evidence from other data relevant to the evaluation of carcinogenicity and its mechanisms. Normally a group 1 classification requires sufficient evidence for a carcinogenic effect in humans.

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