Part of World Health Organization. IARC's mission is to coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific strategies for cancer control. Their web home page is http: //www.iarc.fr/. Additional Info: IARC compiles several databases on carcinogenic risk to humans, epidemiology and cancer control. The IARC Monographs series is one of four resources that OSHA uses to list a material as known or probable human carcinogen. You can view this list of 895 agents reviewed in the monographs. IARC classifies agents (chemicals, mixtures, occupational exposures etc). into four basic categories: (1) Group 1: The agent (mixture) is carcinogenic to humans. The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are carcinogenic to humans. (2) Group 2: The agent (mixture) is probably carcinogenic to humans and Group 2A: The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are probably carcinogenic to humans. Group 2B: The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are possibly carcinogenic to humans. (3) Group 3: The agent (mixture, or exposure circumstance) is unclassifiable as to carcinogenicity in humans. Group 4: The agent (mixture, exposure circumstance) is probably not carcinogenic to humans. MSDS Relevance: This term often appears in the health hazard section of an MSDS, usually to denote whether a substance is (potentially) carcinogenic. OSHA requires the author of the MSDS to check IARC and other sources when creating an MSDS. Along with the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP), IARC is one of the best resources for original information about the effects of toxic chemicals or potential carcinogens. See also: Carcinogen, Teratogen, Toxic