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IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans
Fd Chem. Toxic. Vol. 27, No. 8, pp. 549-551, 1989
0278-6915/89 $3.00 + 0.00 Pergamon Press plc
Printed in Great Britain
Review Section REVIEWS OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Methods for Assessing the Effects of Mixtures of Chemicals Scope 30 SGOMSEC 3. Edited by V. B. Vouk, G. C. Butler, A. C. Upton, D. V. Parke and S. C. Asher. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1987. pp. xxxii + 894. £120.00. ISBN 0-471-91123-2.
This book, produced by SGOMSEC (The Scientific Group on Methodologies for the Safety Evaluation of Chemicals), forms part of a series of reports by SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment). SCOPE specializes in producing these massive volumes; the previous two were on the environmental consequences of nuclear war and on the greenhouse effect (when can we expect a 900-page treatise on the effect of the paper industry on deforestation?). The present offering consists of the report of a workshop held at the University of Surrey in August 1983 and sponsored by an array of international agencies, the acronyms of which resemble an eyesight test. The book consists of two sections--the first containing seven chapters of a joint report prepared by the SGOMSEC editors in conjunction with the group Chairs and the second containing some 41 contributed papers (commissioned "many months in advance of the workshop" according to the preface). The seven joint reports cover environmental transport, detection of human exposure, biochemistry and metabolism, use of data from single chemicals to predict properties of mixtures, testing complex mixtures and effects on the ecosystem. These reports tend to suffer from a predilection for generalities and superficiality; however, to non-toxicologists they would give a good overview of many aspects to toxicology and the problems arising in this field and they have copious references and suggest recommendations for futher action. When one looks at the contributed chapters in Part B the lack of data available on chemical mixtures becomes evident. For example, in the second contributed paper, entitled 'Mixed Chemical Mutagens: Detection of Induced Mutagenic Effects in Exposed Human Populations', none of the data reviewed is generated primarily on populations exposed to mixtures and indeed the authors state that the techniques they review are only just beginning to be used for single chemicals and that their use for chemical mixtures may be premature. This observation is equally true for many of the other contributed papers in that, although 'chemical mixtures' appears in many of the titles there is scarcity of real data and anyone looking for such information in this book is likely to be disappointed. In addition, there is a tendency for
repetition, both within the chapters in the first section and between the first and second sections. However, it would have been surprising if the multitude of authors had been able to avoid treading on each other's 'literary toes' whilst writing on a subject which is in its infancy and about which little is known. The blurb on the book cover accepts that the volume has not been completely successful in its attempt "to identify the limitations, practicabilities and utility of dealing with chemicals in mixtures", and there are a number of possible reasons that have contributed to this: the book has taken four years to publish (probably because of the untimely death of the principal editor) and is already dated in many aspects. The joint reports are committee documents ponderously written in places, and the contributed papers are of uneven quality and arranged perversely in the alphabetical order of the principal author rather than in a systematic fashion. This book has made a well-meaning attempt to address the problem of complex mixtures, but in reality there is not yet sufficient data available on which to base any useful conclusions. However, if it can possibly accelerate the rate of data generation on its subject then it will have been worthwhile. [Peter Jenkinson--Safepharm Labs, Derby and David LovelI--BIBRA] IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Genetic and Related Effects: An Updating of Selected IARC Monographs from Volumes 1 to 42. Supplement 6. IARC, Lyon, 1987. pp. 729. Sw.fr 80.00. ISBN 92-832-1409-9. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42. Supplement 7. IARC, Lyon, 1987. pp. 440. Sw.fr 65.00. ISBN 92-833-1411-0.
Oh for the good old days! We remember a time when the published word from the great expert committees, JECFA proclaiming from Geneva and the SCF with its European voice, earnt the respect of all. Less so now. Within Europe JECFA verdicts are of little direct consequence, while the SCF's breathless race through page upon page of food packaging monomers and additives bodes ill for considered judgements in toxicology. On more thoughtful reflection maybe things are not too bad--we still have IARC. The Working Groups of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, who gather in Lyon, 549
0278-6915/89 $3.00 + 0.00 Pergamon Press plc
Printed in Great Britain
Review Section REVIEWS OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Methods for Assessing the Effects of Mixtures of Chemicals Scope 30 SGOMSEC 3. Edited by V. B. Vouk, G. C. Butler, A. C. Upton, D. V. Parke and S. C. Asher. John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1987. pp. xxxii + 894. £120.00. ISBN 0-471-91123-2.
This book, produced by SGOMSEC (The Scientific Group on Methodologies for the Safety Evaluation of Chemicals), forms part of a series of reports by SCOPE (Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment). SCOPE specializes in producing these massive volumes; the previous two were on the environmental consequences of nuclear war and on the greenhouse effect (when can we expect a 900-page treatise on the effect of the paper industry on deforestation?). The present offering consists of the report of a workshop held at the University of Surrey in August 1983 and sponsored by an array of international agencies, the acronyms of which resemble an eyesight test. The book consists of two sections--the first containing seven chapters of a joint report prepared by the SGOMSEC editors in conjunction with the group Chairs and the second containing some 41 contributed papers (commissioned "many months in advance of the workshop" according to the preface). The seven joint reports cover environmental transport, detection of human exposure, biochemistry and metabolism, use of data from single chemicals to predict properties of mixtures, testing complex mixtures and effects on the ecosystem. These reports tend to suffer from a predilection for generalities and superficiality; however, to non-toxicologists they would give a good overview of many aspects to toxicology and the problems arising in this field and they have copious references and suggest recommendations for futher action. When one looks at the contributed chapters in Part B the lack of data available on chemical mixtures becomes evident. For example, in the second contributed paper, entitled 'Mixed Chemical Mutagens: Detection of Induced Mutagenic Effects in Exposed Human Populations', none of the data reviewed is generated primarily on populations exposed to mixtures and indeed the authors state that the techniques they review are only just beginning to be used for single chemicals and that their use for chemical mixtures may be premature. This observation is equally true for many of the other contributed papers in that, although 'chemical mixtures' appears in many of the titles there is scarcity of real data and anyone looking for such information in this book is likely to be disappointed. In addition, there is a tendency for
repetition, both within the chapters in the first section and between the first and second sections. However, it would have been surprising if the multitude of authors had been able to avoid treading on each other's 'literary toes' whilst writing on a subject which is in its infancy and about which little is known. The blurb on the book cover accepts that the volume has not been completely successful in its attempt "to identify the limitations, practicabilities and utility of dealing with chemicals in mixtures", and there are a number of possible reasons that have contributed to this: the book has taken four years to publish (probably because of the untimely death of the principal editor) and is already dated in many aspects. The joint reports are committee documents ponderously written in places, and the contributed papers are of uneven quality and arranged perversely in the alphabetical order of the principal author rather than in a systematic fashion. This book has made a well-meaning attempt to address the problem of complex mixtures, but in reality there is not yet sufficient data available on which to base any useful conclusions. However, if it can possibly accelerate the rate of data generation on its subject then it will have been worthwhile. [Peter Jenkinson--Safepharm Labs, Derby and David LovelI--BIBRA] IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Genetic and Related Effects: An Updating of Selected IARC Monographs from Volumes 1 to 42. Supplement 6. IARC, Lyon, 1987. pp. 729. Sw.fr 80.00. ISBN 92-832-1409-9. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42. Supplement 7. IARC, Lyon, 1987. pp. 440. Sw.fr 65.00. ISBN 92-833-1411-0.
Oh for the good old days! We remember a time when the published word from the great expert committees, JECFA proclaiming from Geneva and the SCF with its European voice, earnt the respect of all. Less so now. Within Europe JECFA verdicts are of little direct consequence, while the SCF's breathless race through page upon page of food packaging monomers and additives bodes ill for considered judgements in toxicology. On more thoughtful reflection maybe things are not too bad--we still have IARC. The Working Groups of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, who gather in Lyon, 549