IARC Group 4

What is IARC Group 4?

Group 4 — probably not carcinogenic. 1 factor in the Meyron reference are currently classified this way.

Plain-language explanation

Strong evidence that this is unlikely to cause cancer. Used very rarely.

Examples

Caprolactam

Mostly occupational. Reactive industrial chemical used to make plastics or coatings; meaningful exposure is limited to factory workers and chemical handlers.

Reading IARC classifications carefully

The IARC groups describe the strength of evidence that an agent can cause cancer under some conditions — not the size of the risk to any individual, not the dose required, and not how likely exposure is in everyday life. A Group 1 classification does not mean an exposure is unavoidable or catastrophic; a Group 3 classification does not mean it is safe.