IARC Monographs – Occupational exposures to bitumens and their emissions

The WHO/International Agency for Research on Cancer’s Monographs programme re-evaluated various occupations that entail exposures to bitumens and bitumen emissions, including road paving, roofing, and application of mastic asphalt.
After an 8-day comprehensive review, the Working Group concluded that:
 - occupational exposures to oxidized bitumens and their emissions during roofing are ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 2A);
 - occupational exposures to hard bitumens and their emissions during mastic asphalt work are ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 2B); and
 - occupational exposures to straight-run bitumens and their emissions during road paving are ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans’ (Group 2B).
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