ACS calls for strategies to screen for, eliminate exposure to environmental carcinogens

The American Cancer Society released a report calling for strategies to more efficiently and effectively screen the large number of chemicals to which the public is exposed. The report also called for minimizing or eliminating exposure to carcinogens whenever possible.

The ACS created the report as part of an initiative to address ongoing and emerging issues related to environmental pollutants and cancer, and to communicate the society’s principles, objectives and potential role in environmental pollution and cancer prevention. A national volunteer and staff committee of the ACS evaluated the key issues and questions in the area of cancer, environment and prevention to create the report, according to Elizabeth T.H. Fontham, DrPH, national volunteer president of ACS and an author of the report.

Fontham explained that the ACS has focused most prevention resources on addressing modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, obesity and alcohol consumption, all of which have demonstrated an impact on cancer risk.

“All of these can be considered ‘environmental’ factors because they are not genetic,” Fontham told HemOnc Today. “The general public, however, more often associates the term ‘environmental factors’ with pollutants in air, water, food and in general, manmade hazards, exposure to which is often involuntary. ACS recognizes general public and constituent concerns about these types of environmental exposures and the need for better information for both health care providers and the public.”

In the report, Fontham and colleagues note that high-quality systems are currently available for identifying and evaluating available evidence for carcinogenicity, but resources for agencies charged with toxicity testing as well as developing and enforcing regulatory limits are insufficient. The scientific complexity of the environmental exposure issues further complicate testing and evaluation.

“We have a great need to accelerate testing of new and existing chemicals for potential carcinogenicity,” Fontham said. “Most chemicals on the market today have never been tested … We are exposed to many different substances and most at low doses. However, changes in the levels of community exposure over time, exposure to poorly defined mixtures and exposures during different periods of an individual’s life when susceptibility to these exposures may differ are among the many complicating factors. Research is needed to better understand these complexities.”

In addition to calling for implementation of new strategies for toxicity testing, including carcinogenicity assessment, and minimizing exposure, the ACS also made the following requests in the report:

Occupational and community exposures should meet regulatory standards.
Research to identify and reduce carcinogenic hazards should be supported.
Agencies that set and enforce environmental standards should be appropriately funded and science based to keep up with scientific developments and keep standards up to date.
The public should be provided with information to make informed choices.
Communications should acknowledge and not make light of public concerns or exaggerate the potential impact or level of certainty that a risk exists.

Fontham said she is hopeful that the ACS, National Cancer Institute, the International Agency for Research on Cancer and other science-based organizations will assist clinicians in answering patients’ questions so they can make informed choices. – by Tina DiMarcantonio

Fontham ETH. CA Cancer J Clin. 2009;doi:10.3322/caac.20041.