© Reuters. Bottles of Diet Coke are displayed at a market in New York City, New York, US, June 28, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Segar
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(Reuters) — Aspartame, the artificial sweetener used in products from The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE) diet soft drinks to Mars Extra gum, is the latest substance declared a possible carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. IARC).
Carcinogens are substances that can cause cancer in humans. According to the IARC, there are four different levels of classifications – carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic, possibly carcinogenic and unclassifiable.
The levels are based on the strength of the evidence, not the severity of the substance.
Here is a look at some of the most important human carcinogens based on their classifications:
Class 1: When the agent is seen as “carcinogenic to humans”
According to the IARC, this classification is used when there is sufficient evidence that the agent causes cancer in people. Usually, the evaluation is based on the results of an epidemiological study indicating that humans exposed to the substance develop cancer.
The main materials and agents in this category:
Top site substance / cancer agents
alcoholic beverages oral cavity and salivary glands
esophagus, colon, rectum, and liver
and tits
Lung outdoor air pollution
Internal emissions from the lung and skin
home combustion
coal
tobacco smoking oral cavity, esophagus and stomach,
rectum, liver, pancreas, lung,
ovaries, kidneys and urinary bladder,
Among other things
Processed colorectal consumption
Meat
salivary gland X- and gamma radiation, esophagus,
stomach, colon, lung, bone,
Skin, breast, kidney and urinary tract
Bladder, thyroid gland, and brain
The central nervous system
Wood dust pharynx and nasal cavity and
paranasal sinuses
Throat, lung and urinary bladder opiate consumption
Formaldehyde (used in pharyngitis, some types of leukemia
building materials such as
particle board, plywood,
and other compressed wood
products)
UV rays for eyes and skin
Exposure (such as welding)
Class 2: When the agent is seen to be “possibly carcinogenic to humans”
This classification is used when there is limited or insufficient evidence of “carcinogenicity in humans” and there is either more evidence to suggest that it causes cancer in animals, or strong evidence that it has similar properties to other human carcinogens.
The main materials and agents in this category:
Top site substance / cancer agents
Night work breast, prostate, and colon
right
Colorectal, pancreas and red meat consumption
prostate
Occupational exposure to skin and leukemia
Petroleum refining
Occupational exposure such as urinary bladder
Hairdresser or barber
Manufacture of stomach and lung glass
containers, art glass or
Compact tools
Class 3: When the agent is seen to be “possibly carcinogenic to humans”
This classification is generally used when there is limited evidence of “carcinogenicity in humans”, when there is sufficient evidence in animals, or when there is strong evidence showing that the agent exhibits the main characteristics of a human carcinogen.
The main materials and agents in this category:
Top site substance / cancer agents
Carpentry nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses
lumen
A traditional Asian pickle for the pharynx, esophagus, and stomach
vegetables
Occupational exposure in the lung and bladder
printing operations
Occupational exposure in the esophagus and urinary bladder
Dry cleaning
Radiofrequency brain and central nervous system
system of electromagnetic fields
Class 4: When the agent is “not classifiable with respect to its potential for human carcinogenicity”
This classification is used when evidence of carcinogenicity is insufficient. According to IARC, this includes drinking coffee, personal use of hair coloring products, use of fluorescent lighting, chlorinated drinking water, highly refined mineral oils, tea, and printing inks.
Source: International Agency for Research on Cancer, World Health Organization
