The working group will meet at the IARC headquarters in Lyon, France from Nov. 3 to 10, 2020. Their assessment will be published in Volume 128 of the IARC Monographs. Other compounds to be reviewed include arecoline, acrylonitrile and crotonaldehyde.

IARC Monographs identify environmental factors that are carcinogenic hazards to humans. These include chemicals, complex mixtures, occupational exposures, physical agents, biological agents and lifestyle factors. National health agencies can use this information as scientific support for their actions to prevent exposure to potential carcinogens. Since 1971, more than 1,000 agents have been evaluated, of which more than 400 have been identified as carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic or possibly carcinogenic to humans.

The IARC is the specialized cancer research agency of the World Health Organization, established in May 1965 by a resolution of the World Health Assembly.