WASHINGTON — Formaldehyde, a chemical widely used in industrial processes, and aristolochic acids, a family of substances found in some herbal remedies, have been added to the government’s official list of known human carcinogens, officials said Friday.
Six other substances, including styrene, which is used to make coffee cups and food containers, among other products, are considered to be “reasonably anticipated” to be a human carcinogen, according to the Report on Carcinogens, which was released by the National Toxicology Program.
“Reducing exposure to cancer-causing agents is something we all want,” said Linda Birnbaum, director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, in a statement announcing the new listings.
Formaldehyde is linked to leukemia and a rare type of nasal cancer. Aristolochic acids, found in herbal products used to treat arthritis and gout, were listed as a known carcinogen because they can cause bladder or urinary-tract cancer in people with kidney disease.
A listing does not necessarily mean a substance will cause cancer. “Many factors, including the amount and duration of exposures, and an individual’s susceptibility to a substance, affect whether a person will develop cancer,” the statement said.
The report is a congressionally mandated list prepared for the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department. With the new additions in the 12th version of the report, 240 substances are now listed. Originally, annual reports were envisioned, but none had been published since 2005. Controversy surrounding the new report and vigorous lobbying from manufacturers delayed its release for years.
Styrene’s inclusion attracted attention. An important component of polystyrene, it is used primarily in the manufacture of plastic packaging, thermal insulation in buildings and disposable cups and food containers. It is also an important component of fiberglass and is found in boats, shower stalls and carpet backing.
Much of the research underlying the warnings comes from industrial settings, where workers are exposed to large amounts of these chemicals. The amount of styrene found in a coffee cup, by contrast, is small.
Nonetheless, Dr. Philip Landrigan, dean for global health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, said he would advise people — particularly pregnant women and young children — to avoid using polystyrene containers and other products that use styrene.
“I think it’s prudent and sensible, especially in light of this new report, to minimize your exposure,” Landrigan said.
Manufacturers said they would appeal the listings.
The American Composite Manufacturers Association disputed the link between styrene and cancer. “It will unfairly scare workers, plant neighbors and could have a chilling effect on the development of new products,” said Tom Dobbins, a spokesman for the American Composites Manufacturers Association.
Cal Dooley, president and chief executive of the American Chemistry Council, said the report makes “unfounded classifications” about formaldehyde and styrene that will scare consumers.
Substances are listed after being nominated for inclusion, which triggers an exhaustive evaluation of the scientific evidence and public input.
Material from The New York Times and Bloomberg News is included in this report.