Pictogram 7: Health Hazard - Defining Carcinogens

Pictogram 7, the Health Hazard pictogram, identifies chemicals that are carcinogens. The HCS definition of a "carcinogen" is a chemical that meets one of the following criteria:

1. "It has been evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and found to be a carcinogen or potential carcinogen; or
2. It is listed as a carcinogen or potential carcinogen in the Annual Report on Carcinogens published by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) (latest edition); or,
3. It is regulated by OSHA as a carcinogen.

OSHA also notes that "in addition to the determinations of these organizations, all available scientific data on carcinogenicity must be considered. As with other health hazards, the results of any studies which are designed and conducted according to established scientific principles, and which report statistically significant conclusions regarding the carcinogenicity of a chemical, are sufficient for determining that the chemical is a carcinogen under the HCS. Some examples of workplace carcinogens are asbestos, benzene, hexavalent chromium, and vinyl chloride."

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