CARCINOGEN CLASSIFICATION SYSTEMS - SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

An overview of regulatory classification systems on carcinogens in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countrie s is presented based on a questionnaire study. Most OECD countries hav e implemented legislation including classification systems and lists o f carcinogens. Basically, there are two types of classifications syste ms. The major difference between the two is that in one system carcino gens are classified according to the weight of evidence for carcinogen ic effects in humans, whereas in the other carcinogens are allocated t o various groups according to potency. Even if the classification syst ems may differ, the substances classified as carcinogens are to a larg e extent the same. Classification of carcinogens will in many countrie s require hazard labeling. This labeling, i.e., the limit for labeling of substances and preparations, and risk phrases show considerable si milarities, but differ in certain aspects. Several countries have rest rictions on sale and/or use of carcinogens. There is a trend toward in troducing more mechanistic considerations in the classification of car cinogens. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc.