International Agency For Research On Cancer Research Articles

Evaluation of miR-146 and miR-196 as potential biomarkers in a sample of Iraqi breast cancer patients

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease defined by molecular types and subtypes. It constitutes the most commonly-diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) World Cancer Reports in 2020. The study aimed to evaluate the miR-146 and miR-196 expression level and their association with the ca15-3 serum level of the participants diagnosed with breast cancer. There were 105 samples, three groups of 35 fresh blood samples and FFPE Tissue samples, which were collected as malignant, benign and healthy control. CA15-3 concentration was elevated in a malignant group with a mean equal to (36.14 Units/ml) in comparison to (27.07 Units/ml) for the benign group and (14.34 Units/ml) for the healthy control group (p<0.01). The results revealed that the expression of miR-146 in Malignant breast tumor tissue was (2.378 ±0.76) times more, while in benign breast tissue, with the fold of expression (1.197 ±0.38) in comparison with apparently healthy tissue. At the same time, the expression of miR-196 in Malignant breast tumor tissue was (8.11 ±2.15) times more, while in benign breast tissue, with a fold of expression (2.584 ±0.84) compared with apparently healthy tissue with highly significant differences. Keyword: Breast Cancer, miR-146, miR-196, ca15-3, FFPE

ChemCarcinoPred: Carcinogenicity Prediction of Small Drug-Like Molecules Using LightGBM and Molecular Fingerprints

The conventional method for determining whether a drug is carcinogenic involves subjecting rodents to a 2-year bioassay, but this approach is both time-consuming and expensive, not to mention unethical. Consequently, machine learning techniques have emerged as a popular alternative. One such technique is ensemble learning, which aims to create more accurate and robust models. In this particular study, the LightGBM model was utilized to predict the carcinogenicity of chemicals using its fingerprints. Molecular fingerprints were generated from the Simplified Molecular-Input Line-Entry System (SMILES) of 1003 chemicals from the Carcinogenic Potency Database (CPDB) dataset. The performance of the LightGBM model was found to be superior to other machine learning models reported in previous research. To further validate the model, it was tested on a database related to humans from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), as well as on chemicals that were withdrawn from the market between 1950 and 2014. The results showed that the LightGBM model was effective in identifying carcinogenic chemicals, suggesting that this approach could potentially replace traditional methods of carcinogenicity testing in the future.

A Narrative Review of the Carcinogenic Effect of Night Shift and the Potential Protective Role of Melatonin.

Since the IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) announcement in 2007 indicating the possibility of night-shift work carrying carcinogenesis risk, multiple studies on a global level have been conducted to investigate the correlation between night-shift work and cancer development. Circadian rhythm disruption and decreased melatonin production have been postulated as potential contributing factors. There is also growing evidence that night-shift workers tend to adopt unhealthier lifestyles which contribute to poorer health and increase the risk of developing diseases such as cancer. No experimental study has been specifically dedicated to testing specific methods that could decrease cancer risk in night-shift workers. While there are a few studies that investigate melatonin's concurrent use with chemotherapy in cancer patients, there is yet to be seen for studies that investigate melatonin specifically as a cancer prevention method. This narrative review aims to examine current evidence of healthcare night-shift work's risk in cancer incidence, potential pathogenesis, and its significance in clinical practice.

From glyphosate-based herbicide, organic extract, purified organic extract to pure glyphosate: comparative toxicity to cholinesterase enzyme

Glyphosate is an organophosphate herbicide widely used in agriculture and has been classified as a probable carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Roundup Original Mais (ROM) is a glyphosate-based herbicide that contains glyphosate along with other ingredients, and its effects on human health are still a matter of controversy. This study aimed to compare the toxicity of ROM, gradual purified organic extract until pure glyphosate, on serum cholinesterase. Petroleum ether organic extracts of ROM were obtained through procedure A, in which ROM was solubilized in water followed by acetone purification, and procedure B, in which procedure A was submitted to alkalization with 1 M NaOH at pH=11 aiming for purification. Enzymatic activities of ROM, organic extracts obtained from procedures A and B, pure glyphosate, neostigmine (an anticholinesterase agent as positive control), and serum alone (negative control) were detected using a commercial kit for cholinesterase determination, in triplicate. The results showed that all substances, except the pure glyphosate standard, significantly inhibited the enzyme, with the inhibition being: ROM>neostigmine>Procedure A>Procedure B. ROM was found to be potentially more toxic than pure glyphosate due to the presence of impurities. We showed the gradual toxicity loss with the purification process of ROM, the form by which workers are exposed. The use of serum cholinesterase for toxicity evaluation can provide valuable information on the toxicity of glyphosate-based herbicides. Further studies are needed to investigate the specific impurities present in ROM and their toxic potential on health.

Perspectives on recent reviews of aspartame cancer epidemiology

Aspartame is a dipeptide non-sugar sweetener that was first marketed in the US in carbonated beverages in 1983, before gaining prominence globally. The Joint Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)/World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) completed evaluations of aspartame and cancer in July 2023. JECFA reaffirmed the safety of aspartame, stating that epidemiology evidence is “not convincing,” and that there are no consistent associations between aspartame and cancer (JECFA/IARC, 2023; JECFA, 2023). JECFA also noted “reverse causality, chance, bias and confounding by socioeconomic or lifestyle factors, or consumption of other dietary components, could not be completely ruled out” in relevant epidemiology studies (JECFA/IARC, 2023). In contrast, IARC stated that there are three “high quality” studies on liver cancer (Riboli, 2023), but that the evidence is limited because “chance, bias or confounding could not be ruled out as an explanation for the positive findings” (JECFA/IARC, 2023). IARC does not provide an explanation as to how these studies can be both high quality and have these weaknesses, most notably potential exposure misclassification, or how inconsistent associations from studies with these weaknesses constitute limited evidence. Further, when IARC concludes an agent has limited or inadequate human evidence (and no sufficient animal or strong mechanistic evidence), it classifies that agent as either Group 2B, a possible human carcinogen, or Group 3, not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity. Ultimately, the interpretations of Group 2B and Group 3 classifications are intended to be similar. However, a Group 2B designation may make it appear to scientists and non-scientists alike that the evidence is pointing in the direction of causality. This can lead to unnecessary confusion with respect to the evidence, as well as a perception of a disagreement within WHO regarding aspartame. This apparent contradiction could have been avoided by assigning the IARC classification most consistent with the conclusion that the human evidence for cancer is inadequate: Group 3.

Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer Incidence at Ibnu Sina Hospital Makassar

Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor that occurs in the cervical region at the end of the cervix. Based on data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), it is known that the second highest cause of death is cervical cancer, reaching 460,000 cases and 230,000 women deaths. Cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection and several factors, namely age, parity, age of first sexual intercourse, number of sexual partners history, HPV vaccination history, smoking history, and oral contraceptives history. To determine the risk factors for cervical cancer incidence at Ibnu Sina Hospital Makassar. This was descriptive retrospective study method. With cross sectional research design. The total sample was 68 people with cervical cancer at Ibnu Sina Hospital Makassar. The distribution of age 30-60 years (85.3%), parity >3 (57.4%), and age of first sexual intercourse >17 years (85.3%). There was no history of using oral contraceptives (54.4%), HPV vaccination history (97.1%), and smoking history (98.5%). Having only 1 history of number of sexual partners (89.7%), employment history was not out of town (63.2%), and the most common type of cervical cancer was squamous cell carcinoma (76.5%). The distribution of risk factors for the incidence of Cervical Cancer at Ibnu Sina Hospital was mostly found at the age of 30-60 years, parity> 3, age of first sexual intercourse >17 years, no history of using oral contraceptives, no HPV vaccination history, no smoking history, having 1 history of sexual partners, work history not out of town, and the type of cervical cancer is squamous cell carcinoma.

Analytical method development, validation, and out-of-specification investigations for polyethylene glycol

This work was motivated by the United States Pharmacopeia monograph modernization initiative and European directorate for the quality of medicines and healthcare. An out-of-specification (OOS) occurrence prompted OOS investigations for the cGMP (cGMP refers to the Current Good Manufacturing Practice regulations enforced by the FDA) release testing of residual ethylene oxide in polyethylene glycol (PEG) according to the standards detailed within the United States Pharmacopeia/National Formulary (USP-NF) for polyethylene glycol, and the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) for macrogols. During the OOS root cause investigations, we observed a PEG degradant and identified it as methyl formate, which co-elutes with ethylene oxide using the GC (gas chromatography) methods published in current USP-NF and Ph. Eur. for PEGs. To address this, a novel method utilizing static headspace gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (HS-GC-FID) was developed to test various grades of PEGs for the presence of residual ethylene oxide, along with other process related impurities and degradation products. With this new method, ethylene oxide, a known genotoxic impurity and IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) Class 1 human carcinogen, can be well resolved from methyl formate, a newly identified and comparatively innocuous degradant derived from PEG. The currently available official compendial methods are unable to separate the specific impurities in PEGs. However, the new GC method presented in this paper has been shown to have a high and unique selectivity, allowing for baseline separations (chromatographic resolutions greater than 1.5) of all related impurities in PEGs, which is a challenging task. Additionally, this method has been found to be stability-indicating based on a forced degradation study. During stress stability study of PEGs involving acid, alkali, heat, light, and oxidation, some other PEG degradants, including formaldehyde, were identified. It is possible that formaldehyde undergoes a disproportionation reaction known as the Cannizzaro reaction, leading to the formation of formic acid and methanol. The formic acid then undergoes an esterification reaction with methanol to produce methyl formate. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first stability-indicating HS-GC-FID method that accomplishes this separation in a single run, and it was successfully validated as per ICH (the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use) guidelines. Therefore, this method is suitable for the conduct of cGMP batch release and stability testing of PEGs in regulated quality control (QC) laboratories.

A Review on the Uptake, Accumulation, Impact and Determinants of Microcystins on Intestinal Health

Microcystins (MCs) released during cyanobacterial blooms induce immense toxic manifestations in animals and humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) categorized MC as a possible carcinogen. Research indicates that aside from the liver, MCs can negatively impact the intestine. Interestingly, less attention exists with respect to MCs effects on the intestine in spite of the organ being the focal site of the toxins’ uptake. Compiling data from in vivo and in vitro studies, the current review summarized available literature on the impact of MCs on intestinal health. In addition, the toxins’ uptake, accumulation, and various methods used to determine intestinal toxicity were elucidated.

Cancro Hematopoiético associado ao Trabalho

Introduction/framework/objectives Hematopoietic oncological pathologies may be associated with some work conditions. The bibliography on the subject is not very exhaustive and, therefore, the associated knowledge is not very developed among professionals in the area and/or workers/managers/employers. The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent and relevant publications on the subject. Methodology This is a Bibliographic Review, initiated through a search carried out in January 2022 in the databases “CINALH plus with full text, Medline with full text, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Methodology Register, Nursing and Allied Health Collection: comprehensive, MedicLatina and RCAAP”. Content In the work environment, the most relevant chemical agents in relation to leukemia are benzene, tetrachlorethylene, styrene, chlorophenols, aromatic amines, creosote, chromium, arsenic, ethylene oxide, asbestos, antineoplastic agents and pesticides. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has identified more than one hundred chemical carcinogens and, of these, about a quarter increase the risk of leukemia and lymphoma. This entity classifies butadiene and formaldehyde (used in the plastic, rubber and textile production industry, for example) as included in group 1, that is, carcinogenic to humans; she further published that benzene, ethylene oxide, some pesticides and formaldehyde as probably linked to leukemia (group 2a); as well as some types of radiation. This institution highlighted the existence of a greater hematopoietic risk related to professional activities associated with shipbuilding, footwear and rubber production, although the conclusions are not consensual among researchers. In turn, chimney sweeping work has been shown to be associated with all types of hematopoietic cancer. Discussion and Conclusions There are some risk factors with suspected or proven association with the etiology of some hematopoietic oncological pathologies. It is essential that professionals in the sector acquire a minimum of knowledge regarding what the scarce bibliography describes, so that it is possible to plan collective and individual protection measures that manage to mitigate the risk. It would also be interesting if some occupational health and safety teams, working in institutions with workers exposed to these working conditions, were able to investigate the topic, releasing innovative and/or more complete data to the bibliography than what is currently published. KEYWORDS: hematopoietic cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, occupational health and occupational medicine.

The relation between human papillomavirus (HPV) and oropharyngeal cancer: a review.

Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCC) represent a major public health challenge. In 2020, the international agency for research on cancer (IARC) recorded 98,421 cases of OPSCC worldwide. Over the past decade, the epidemiological profile of patients with OPSCC has shifted, mainly due to a change in etiological factors. Previously, alcohol and tobacco were considered the primary contributors, but the human papillomavirus (HPV) is now recognized as the leading cause of these tumors. This study aimed to conduct a literature review on the relationship between OPSCC and HPV for the general practitioner. The review examined the primary clinical differences between HPV+ and HPV- OPSCC, their prognosis and treatment. In addition, the various HPV diagnostic methods were analyzed. Although there is a vast amount of literature on HPV, this review is unique in its ability to present the key information in an organized and accessible way and enables healthcare professionals to gain a better understanding of the relationship between HPV and oropharyngeal cancer. This, in turn, can contribute to the prevention of various cancers caused by the HPV virus, including oropharyngeal cancer.

Activity Prediction of Various Herbicides against Honey Bee, Avian, and Multiple Human Leukemia, CNS, Ovarian, Prostate Cancer Cell Lines

Herbicides classify as chemicals targeting specific biochemical pathways in plants and may influence human or animal health according to their chemistry, concentration, environment, biological target and others. With safety concern, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified herbicides and their metabolites as fetal developments may be a consequence of enzymatic inhibition or other mechanisms. Thirty phytotoxins were subjected to online pkCSM website, as a Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship (QSAR) prediction activity against honey bee, avian, and multiple human Leukemia, CNS, Ovarian, Prostate Cancer cell lines. Prediction outcomes were varied and influenced by chemical structure of each tested herbicide. Sulfentrazone having evidence of human non- carcinogenic character (Group E) had hepatotoxicity prediction and cancer cell lines activity less than 5 of Leukemia, CNS, Ovarian, and Prostate. Also, it had CYP1A2 inhibition, negative response of p- glycoprotein, Ames, skin sensitization, renal OCT2, and hERG. All above characters beside low intestinal absorption and Blood- Brain Barrier (BBB) presented encouraging online funding as more structurally safe having active – multiple toxicological and cellular interactions. Simetryn and Simazine that have the same core structure except (-SCH3) group replaced with chloro group gave semi identical results of many calculated characters and inactive materials to cancer cell lines and herbicide activity, honey bee and avian toxicities but not BBB, total clearance, and oral rat chronic (LOAEL) confirming structure influences upon prediction.

Exploring the release of hazardous volatile organic compounds from face masks and their potential health risk

Hazardous chemicals released from the petroleum-derived face mask can be inhaled by wearers and cause adverse health effects. Here, we first used headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with GC-MS to comprehensively analyze the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from 26 types of face masks. The results showed that total concentrations and peak numbers ranged from 3.28 to 197 μg/mask and 81 to 162, respectively, for different types of mask. Also, light exposure could affect the chemical composition of VOCs, particularly increasing the concentrations of aldehydes, ketones, organic acids and esters. Of these detected VOCs, 142 substances were matched to a reported database of chemicals associated with plastic packaging; 30 substances were identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as potential carcinogenic to humans; 6 substances were classified in the European Union as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, or very persistent, very bioaccumulative substance. Reactive carbonyls were ubiquitous in masks, especially after exposure to light. The potential risk of VOCs released from the face masks were then accessed by assuming the extreme scenario that all the VOC residues were released into the breathing air within 3 h. The result showed that the average total concentration of VOCs (17 μg/m3) was below the criterion for hygienic air, but seven substances, 2-ethylhexan-1-ol, benzene, isophorone, heptanal, naphthalene, benzyl chloride, and 1,2-dichloropropane exceeded the non-cancer health guidelines for lifetime exposure. This finding suggested that specific regulations should be adopted to improve the chemical safety of face masks.

CRISPR based biosensing: An ultrasensitive theranostic tool for the detection of early Breast Cancer biomarkers – A mini review

According to The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) survey, the most commonly diagnosed breast cancer (BC) encumbrance will rise to ˃3 million with ˃1 million bereavements per year by 2040. This creates a high demand for effective early diagnosis of BC to reduce psychological and economic distress. Recently, the body fluid cancer biomarkers detection, a minimally invasive method has an imperative role to identify the cancer stages for developing new strategies for early diagnosis. Traditional complicated and sophisticated detection tool preparation and time consuming detection technologies are lately replaced with nanotechnology incorporated Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) technology based biosensors. This technology is an in vitro, next generation ultrasensitive diagnostic device meant to achieve highly specific, ultra-sensitive, and rapid identification of BC nucleic acids, protein biomarkers, whole cells, and small molecules. Till date, many reviews focussing on the use of this technology in diagnosing contagious diseases, liver and colon cancers and later state BC biomarkers are published. Yet review article highlighting the CRISPR/Cas modified biosensors and point-of-care devices (POCDs), exclusively for early BC detection is rarely reported. Hence, this review involves critical thinking on CRISPS-Cas based biosensors research published between Jan 2017–Nov 2022 especially for early BC biomarkers based liquid biopsy diagnosis to develop ultrasensitive and rapid POC tool. The challenges faced by the researchers to bring out CRISPR based biosensing into real time and the future perspectives are also briefed at the end.

Global Incidence, Mortality, Risk Factors and Trends of Melanoma: A Systematic Analysis of Registries.

Melanoma of the skin is the most dangerous skin cancer in the world, though the numbers of reported new cases and melanoma-related deaths are low. This study evaluated the global incidence, mortality, risk factors and temporal trends by age, sex and locations of melanoma skin cancer. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) volumes I-XI; the Nordic Cancer Registries (NORDCAN); the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program; and the World Health Organization (WHO) International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) mortality database were accessed for worldwide incidence and mortality rates. Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) was calculated using a Joinpoint regression to examine trends. Age-standardized rates of cancer incidence and mortality were 3.4 and 0.55 per 100,000 worldwide in 2020. Australia and New Zealand reported the highest incidence and mortality rates. Associated risk factors included higher prevalence of smoking, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, obesity and metabolic diseases. Increasing incidence trends were observed mostly in European countries, whilst mortality displayed an overall decreasing trend. For both sexes in the age group 50 years and above, a significant increase in incidence trend was observed. Although mortality rates and trends were found to decrease, global incidence has increased, especially in older age groups and males. Whilst incidence increase may be attributed to improved healthcare infrastructure and cancer detection methods, the growing prevalence of lifestyle and metabolic risk factors in developed countries should not be discounted. Future research should explore underlying variables behind epidemiological trends.

Do investments in cancer registry databases and tools bring added value? NORDCAN as an example

Background In the 1990s, the large-scale collaboration Kreftbildet i Norden (KIN) drew attention to the need for timely cancer statistics for cancer control planning in the Nordic countries. Supported by the Nordic Cancer Union (NCU), a web-based version of NORDCAN was continually developed by the Association of Nordic Cancer Registries (ANCR) from 2003, with website support and hosting by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Despite empirical evidence of its global reach, the question of whether recurrent investment in NORDCAN brings added value was raised; we sought to formally assess this. Methods Scientific value was determined by extracting publications citing NORDCAN from PubMed. We compared the funds allocated to the KIN project and later Nordic studies on cancer predictions and survival, with those allocated to NORDCAN. Results 96 publications in 43 journals were retrieved. Two publication peaks, in 2010 and in 2016 relate to Nordic cancer survival and Danish age care projects, respectively. Papers citing NORDCAN increased substantially from 4 published in 2017 to the 24 papers in 2022. The integration of survival and prediction projects into NORDCAN reduced the costs of investment to one-quarter of the those required in earlier years, in real terms. Discussion User statistics and scientific output clearly points to NORDCAN bringing added value given resources expended, even with the additional costs imposed to ensure GDPR compliance. Research funding indicates that the databases and interactive tools are critical as both research and education resources. Nonetheless, a sustainable funding model is needed if NORDCAN is to continue to fulfill its utility in cancer control, health care planning and cancer research.

Abstract 74: Supporting African Countries in Developing Cancer Control Programmes: The Added Value of South-South Cooperation

Abstract Purpose: Advisory support to develop National Cancer Control Programmes (NCCP) is one of the services offered to Ministries of Health by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) within the framework of the WHO-IAEA Joint Programme on Cancer Control. The aim is to assist Member States in developing evidence-based, prioritized, country-specific strategic documents and to strengthen regional coordination to tackle the raising burden of cancer. Methods: IAEA-WHO-IARC support to develop NCCPs is provided through international experts covering the entire continuum of cancer control. The work encompasses the identification of the country’s needs and capacities through a detailed situational analysis, regular meetings with the team appointed by the Ministry of Health, and in-country workshops with national stakeholders, including civil society organizations, academia, and cancer survivors. Regional experts are involved to give a strategic direction to improve cancer prevention and control services taking into consideration common best practices and challenges. Results: In the African region the involvement of regional experts strengthened south-south cooperation through the creation of a network of cancer control professionals that can share experiences and lessons learned, paving the way for possible partnerships to implement cancer control priorities. In countries such as Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe this approach facilitated the establishment of a dialogue that fostered longer-lasting mutual support for capacity building and the exchange of knowledge to advance the implementation of cancer control activities in sustainable ways. Conclusion: The development of an NCCP is a critical first step to ensure that effective national responses are put in place to reduce the challenges posed by cancer. This leads to the implementation of priority activities through strategic partnerships, strong coordination mechanisms and resource mobilization to achieve the objective of reducing cancer incidence and mortality. A robust NCCP becomes also the foundation document to further support countries in establishing and expanding radiation medicine services through different initiatives, such as the recently launched Rays of Hope, directly contributing to fulfil the 2030 Agenda and Sustainable Development Goals. Citation Format: Marianna Nobile, Tlotlo Ralefala, Kennedy Lishimpi, Justice Mudavanhu. Supporting African Countries in Developing Cancer Control Programmes: The Added Value of South-South Cooperation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 74.

RF Health Safety Limits and Recommendations [Health Matters

The rapid proliferation of cellular mobile telecommunication devices and systems is raising public health concerns about the biological effects and safety of RF radiation exposure. There is also concern about the efficacy of promulgated health safety limits, rules, and recommendations for the RF radiation used by these devices and systems. This article reviews and discusses the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) notices and rules, International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines, and International Committee on Electromagnetic Safety (ICES) standard for safety levels with respect to human exposure to electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The recently revised RF exposure limits are adjusted only for heating with RF radiation. These limits are largely intended to restrict short-term heating by RF radiation that raises tissue temperatures. They are narrow in scope and are not applicable to long-term exposure at low levels. This review discusses the assumptions underlying the standards and the outdated exposure metrics employed, and concludes that the revised guidelines do not adequately protect children, workers, or the public from exposure to RF radiation or people with sensitivity to electromagnetic radiation from wireless devices and systems. Furthermore, the review discusses important animal data that the standards do not appear to take into account. Moreover, for millimeter-wave radiation from 5G mobile communications, there are no adequate human health effects studies in the published literature. The conclusions by scientific organizations, such as the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), that diverge from these standards are also discussed. The review concludes that many of the recommended limits are debatable and require more scientific justification from the standpoint of safety and public health protection.

Air Pollution and Lung Cancer

Malignant lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Smoking is the main risk factor for lung cancer. However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared in 2013 that outdoor air pollution is a substance that is carcinogenic and contributes to lung cancer. This was supported by several studies which show an increased prevalence of adenocarcinoma, even in countries with a low prevalence of smokers. The presence of one or more substances in the air for longer periods or at higher concentrations than usual, which can potentially have negative effects, is called air pollution. Aside from carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), lead, ozone (O3), and sulfur dioxide (SO2), particulate matter with <2.5 µm diameter (PM2.5) has been identified to be associated with the risk of lung cancer. The risk of lung cancer was higher after prolonged exposure to PM2.5 regardless of age, gender, and smoking history. Exposure to air pollution is a significant factor in the onset and progression of lung cancer. Oxidative stress, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage, inflammation, metabolism, epigenetic control, and signal transduction pathways are a few potential mechanisms of air pollution-induced lung cancer. Everyone, including the government and the general public, must implement strategies to stop the harmful effects of air pollution.

Assessment of Aspartame (E951) Occurrence in Selected Foods and Beverages on the German Market 2000-2022.

This study examines the occurrence of the artificial sweetener aspartame (E951) in foods and beverages sampled by food control authorities in Germany between 2000 and 2022. The dataset was obtained through the Consumer Information Act. Out of 53,116 samples analyzed, aspartame was present in 7331 samples (14%), of which 5703 samples (11%) in nine major food groups were further evaluated. The results showed that aspartame was most commonly found in powdered drink bases (84%), flavored milk drinks (78%), chewing gum (77%), and diet soft drinks (72%). In the solid food groups, the highest mean aspartame content was detected in chewing gum (1543 mg/kg, n = 241), followed by sports foods (1453 mg/kg, n = 125), fiber supplements (1248 mg/kg, n = 11), powdered drink bases (1068 mg/kg, n = 162), and candies (437 mg/kg, n = 339). Liquid products generally had the highest aspartame content in diet soft drinks (91 mg/L, n = 2021), followed by regular soft drinks (59 mg/L, n = 574), flavored milk drinks (48 mg/kg, n = 207), and mixed beer drinks (24 mg/L, n = 40). These results suggest that aspartame is commonly used in some foods and beverages in Germany. The levels of aspartame found were generally within the legal limits set by the European Union. These findings provide the first comprehensive overview of aspartame in the German food market and may be particularly useful in informing the forthcoming working groups of the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the WHO/FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), which are in the process of evaluating the human health hazards and risks associated with the consumption of aspartame.

Comparison between two cancer registry quality check systems: functional features and differences in an Italian network of cancer registries dataset.

The aim of this study was to compare the functional characteristics of two computer-based systems for quality control of cancer registry data through analysis of their output differences. The study used cancer incidence data from 22 of the 49 registries of the Italian Network of Cancer Registries registered between 1986 and 2017. Two different data checking systems developed by the WHO International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Joint Research Center (JRC) with the European Network of Cancer Registries (ENCR) and routinely used by registrars were used to check the quality of the data. The outputs generated by the two systems on the same dataset of each registry were analyzed and compared. The study included a total of 1,305,689 cancer cases. The overall quality of the dataset was high, with 86% (81.7-94.1) microscopically verified cases and only 1.3% (0.03-3.06) cases with a diagnosis by death certificate only. The two check systems identified a low percentage of errors (JRC-ENCR 0.17% and IARC 0.003%) and about the same proportion of warnings (JRC-ENCR 2.79% and IARC 2.42%) in the dataset. Forty-two cases (2% of errors) and 7067 cases (11.5% of warnings) were identified by both systems in equivalent categories. 11.7% of warnings related to TNM staging were identified by the JRC-ENCR system only. The IARC system identified mainly incorrect combination of tumor grade and morphology (72.5% of warnings). Both systems apply checks on a common set of variables, but some variables are checked by only one of the systems (for example, checks on patient follow-up and tumor stage at diagnosis are included by the JRC-ENCR system only). Most errors and warnings were categorized differently by the two systems, but usually described the same issues, with warnings related to "morphology" (JRC-ENCR) and "histology" (IARC) being the most frequent. It is important to find the right balance between the need to maintain high standards of data quality and the workability of such systems in the daily routine of the cancer registry.