ITEMS OF INTEREST

SACCHARIN REMOVED, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES ADDED
TO LIST OF CARCINOGENS
After an extensive review of evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals, saccharin has been removed from the list of substances known or reasonably anticipated to cause cancer in the 9th Edition of the Report on Carcinogens released by the Department of Health and Human Services May 15. Saccharin had been listed in the report as 'reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen' since 1981. The review that resulted in the de-listing determined that the bladder tumors observed in rats arose from a mechanism that is not relevant to humans.
The new edition of the report adds consumption of alcoholic beverages as a 'known human carcinogen' for its causal relationship to cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. The risk is most pronounced among smokers, and at the highest levels of consumption. The report also states that there is evidence that suggests a link between alcoholic beverage consumption and cancer of the liver an breast.
A press release about the new edition is available from:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/oc/news/9thROC.htm A copy of the report is posted at: http://ehis.niehs.nih.gov/roc/toc9.html