CHEMICAL CARCINOGENS

What is a carcinogen?

 Any substance that is capable of causing cancer.

 Cancer is the abnormal or uncontrolled growth of new
cells in any part of the body, characterized by cells that
tend to invade surrounding tissue and metastasize to new
body sites.
 Carcinogens are chronic toxins. They cause damage after
repeated or long-duration exposure. They may have not
immediate apparent harmful effects, with cancer
developing only after a long latency period.
What are reproductive toxins?

 Mutagens  Teratogens
cause damage to chromo- act during pregnancy to
somes by introducing cause adverse effects on
changes to DNA. the embryo or fetus
 Mutagens have adverse including malformations,
effects on fertility and retarded growth and post-
general reproductive natal deficiencies.
performance.  Reproductive toxins can
 Mutagens are chronic affect both men and
toxins women.
What materials are carcinogens?

 Asbestos
 Certain chemicals
 Coal tars and coke oven emissions
 Hardwood sawdust (certain species)
 Ionizing radiation
 Natural products (progesterone, safrole)
 Tobacco smoke
 Ultraviolet radiation
What is a chemical carcinogen?

 Any discrete chemical compound which has

been shown to cause cancer in human or animal
studies.
 Hundreds of individual compounds have been
shown to induce cancers. Many thousands of
additional compounds are “suspect”
carcinogens.
 Many are commonly used in laboratory
operations, shops and art studios.
How is chemical carcinogenicity determined?

 Epidemiological studies determine the relationship

between a cancer suspect chemical and a human
population over a long period of time.
 Animal studies directly induce cancer in test animals using
a large sample of animals, usually of two or more species
with varying dose and time parameters.
 Experiments with animals are based on the premise that
chemicals that produce cancer in animals will have similar
effects on human cells. Most known human carcinogens
produce cancer in experimental animals.
What is an OSHA “select” carcinogen?

 Any substance that is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen.

 It is listed under the category “know to be carcinogens” in
the Annual Report on Carcinogens published by the
National Toxicology Program (NTP).
 It is listed under Group 1 (“carcinogenic to humans”) by the
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
 It is listed in either Group 2A (“limited evidence of
carcinogenicity” from human studies) or 2B (“sufficient
evidence of carcinogenicity” from animal studies) by IARC
or under the category “reasonably anticipated to be
carcinogens by NTP. (A specified dose range is given.)
Which classes of chemicals tend to be carcinogens?

 Epoxides:  N-Nitroso compounds:

Ethylene oxide N-
Propylene oxide Nitrosodimethylamine
 Organohalogen comp.:  Aromatic Amines:
Vinyl chloride Benzidine
Carbon tetrachloride Aniline
Chloroform o-Anisidine
Hexachlorobenzene o-Toluidine
Trichloroethylene  Aromatic hydrocarbons:
 Hydrazines: Benzene
Hydrazine (and salts) Benz[a]anthracene
1,2-Dimethylhydrazine Benzo[a]pyrene
Classes of carcinogens (cont.)

 Misc. organic compounds:  Misc. inorganic comp.:

Formaldehyde Arsenic and
Acetaldehyde compounds Chromium
1,4-Dioxane and comp. Thorium
Ethyl carbamate dioxide Beryllium
2-Nitropropane and compounds Cadmium and
Styrene compounds Lead and
Thiourea compounds Nickel and
Thioacetamide compounds Selenium
sulfide
How do carcinogens enter the body?

 Skin absorption. Many solvents and other

chemicals go directly through the skin.
 Ingestion. Swallowing of a carcinogen.
 Inhalation. Breathing gases, fumes and
vapors is the most common form of
exposure.
What organs to carcinogens attack?

 Lungs
 Liver
 Kidney
 Reproductive system
 Skin
 Many other organs and tissues
What factors influence the development of cancer?

 Dose--amount and length of exposure. The lower the

dose the least likely you are to develop cancer or
related diseases.
 Environmental or “lifestyle” factors.
 Cigarette smoking (co-carcinogen)
 Alcohol consumption (co-carcinogen)

 Diet--high fat consumption, natural antioxidants

 Geographic location--industrial areas, UV light

 Therapeutic drugs--some are known carcinogens

 Inherited conditions
How do I reduce my exposure to carcinogens?

 Engineering controls--exhaust ventilation and equipment

 Personal protective equipment
 Personal hygiene
 Labeling and storage of containers
 Housekeeping and maintenance
 Regulated areas
 Decontamination and emergency procedures
 Monitoring
 Administrative controls
Engineering controls--exhaust ventilation and equipment

 General room ventilation--10 or more changes of air per hour.

Designed to reduce exposures below the permissible exposure
limit (PEL). Many carcinogens have a very low exposure
limit. Use an “ALARA” policy.
 Fume hoods--full open face velocity of 8o to 100 l.f.p.m..
combined with a dry ice capture test.
 Local ventilation--exhaust (sometimes supply) at the point of
use of a chemical. “Elephant trunk” or slot hood.
 Carcinogen glove box or environmental chamber.
 Biosafety cabinet--used for anticancer drugs, viruses.
 No benchtop work in a laboratory setting.
Personal protective equipment

 Respiratory protection--dust masks, respirators.

Respirators are primarily for use in non-lab areas, except
for emergency response (spill cleanup)--shops, floor
stripping, construction operations (painting).
 Eye protection--safety glasses, splash goggles, face
shields.
 Hand protection--gloves, protective sleeves.
 Protective clothing--lab coats, aprons, Tyvek garments.
 OSHA standards for personal protective equipment
supersede other OSHA standards.
Personal hygiene

 No smoking, eating, drinking or application of cosmetics is

permitted in areas where carcinogens are in use (or in any
lab area!). No mouth pipetting!
 Wash hands and any exposed skin if potentially
contaminated--face, neck, forearms, etc.
 No shorts or open toed shoes.
 Remove lab coat or other potentially contaminated
protective clothing before leaving the work area. Lab coats
need to be cleaned regularly; special washing instructions
may be needed. Contaminated disposable clothing should
be treated as hazardous waste
Labeling of containers

 All containers of chemical carcinogens need to have a

warning label affixed to them. A Right-to-Know (RTK)
style label must be on any container of material that is
repackaged or made into a solution more than 0.1%.
 All areas where carcinogens may be used, present or stored
should have prominently displayed warning signs or labels
both in the areas and access to them.. Some warning signs
and labels are described by specific standards.

 “DANGER--Contains ___________
CANCER HAZARD”
Storage of containers

 Carcinogens must be stored separately from other

materials.
 Separated by shelving system or secondary containment.
 Secondary containment means placing chemical containers
in an outer container to prevent the release of a chemical in
the event that its container breaks or ruptures.
 Desiccators, plastic boxes, bottle-in-can are acceptable
secondary containment.
 Storage areas must be labeled “Danger--Carcinogens
Stored Here.”
Housekeeping and maintenance

 Keep all work surfaces and equipment clean.

 Dry sweeping or compressed air cleaning of floors or work
surfaces is prohibited.
 Dry cleaning of surfaces and equipment must be done by
vacuum systems with high-efficiency filters.
 All contaminated floor sweepings, debris (paper towels,
Kimwipes, plasticware), discarded filters from respirators
or vacuums must be bagged, properly labeled and sent out
for incineration.
Regulated areas

 Establish regulated or designated areas for the use of

carcinogens. (Required in Lab Standard.)
 Locations where entry and exit or use of an area is
restricted to the use of carcinogens.
 Only authorized persons trained in the use of the
carcinogens present may use these areas when such
materials are in use.
 Regulated areas are usually under negative pressure (fume
hood) to contain carcinogens in the hood or room.
Decontamination and emergency procedures

 Safety shower and eyewash station nearby.

 Special solutions or solvents on hand if required for
decontamination of skin, eyes.
 Spill mixtures and cleanup materials for spills on hand.
 All used spill cleanup materials must be treated as hazardous
waste.
 Respirator may be needed for spill cleanup.
 Any “incidental” spill may be cleaned up by the lab staff; larger
spills may require a emergency response (5-1111).
 Fire extinguisher at hand as required. Training needed.
 Written emergency response plan. Training required.
Monitoring

 If there is reason to believe that a PEL may be exceeded then

personal exposure monitoring is required. This may be done by
EH&S staff. Personnel monitoring with sample pumps or badges.
 Area monitoring may be required in some cases.
 Medical monitoring may be required if it is anticipated that PELs
may be exceeded. Examination by a physician, blood tests, etc.
Required whenever there is a spill or other emergency.
 Results of monitoring must be supplied to the employee.
 Records of exposures,. monitoring, and medical exams must be
kept for 30 years.
Administrative controls

 Material Safety Data Sheets and other information.

 Training--all employees using carcinogens must be trained in
the recognition of the physical and health hazards associated
with the carcinogens they are working with, methods to
detect the presence or release of a carcinogen and ways to
protect themselves from exposure to the carcinogens with
which they are working.
 Specialized training may be required for specific
carcinogens.
 Written exposure control plans, if required.
 Limitations on the duration of exposure.
How do I dispose of waste carcinogens?

 With very few exceptions (dilute formaldehyde solutions)

carcinogens may never be discharged to the sanitary sewer.
 Carcinogens may never be disposed of in the ordinary trash.
 Waste bottles must be properly labeled, tightly capped at all
times (except when adding or removing waste) and they
must have secondary containment. See section 7.9-11 of
the CHP for waste bottle labeling instructions. Check
“Poison” on the waste label.
 Dry wastes must be incinerated or shipped out as regulated
medical waste (“chemotheraputic agents”).
How do I reduce my inventory and level of waste generation?

 Plan the use of carcinogens carefully. Do not make more

stock solutions than are required.
 Substitute less hazardous materials for carcinogens
whenever possible; toluene instead of benzene.
 Purchase carcinogens in the smallest possible quantities.
 Do not allow inventories to accumulate. Place no longer
needed materials in a recycling program or dispose of as
waste.
 Detoxify carcinogens as part of your research protocols.
Formaldehyde is easily detoxified by NH4OH, for example.
The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)

 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) “relevant to safety

and health considerations” need to be developed when
carcinogens are in use. An SOP may be developed for an
individual carcinogen, a process or a class of chemicals.
 An SOP must contain the following: The name and
location of the chemical, purchasing and usage authoriza-
tion, training requirements, location of use, PPE required,
methods of waste disposal, decontamination, first aid
measures, spill control, emergency phone numbers and any
other relevant information.
 Employees must be trained in the content of the SOP.
The End