Compound Interest: Chemical Concerns

What do the IARC’s carcinogen classifications actually mean?

July 14, 2023 68Comments 10Likes 2863Views

Infographic on the IARC carcinogen classification system. Classifications are shown along with example substances that fall within each category. Classifications range from group 1 (carcinogenic to humans) to group 4 (probably not carcinogenic).

Alcohol: Well known to be carcinogenic to humans. Despite this, a large proportion of the population drink it regularly. More surprisingly, whenever the International Agency for Research on Cancer updates its carcinogen classifications for other substances with a lower cancer risk, there’s often media fanfare. In recent years, the IARC has upgraded classifications for red meat and aspartame, leading to a spate of panicked articles. This republished and updated post takes a look at what the classification groups actually mean, and how worried we should be about a substance’s classification.

Risks of Radon: The radiation beneath our feet – in C&EN

September 8, 2021 0Comments 0Likes 211Views

Click to view the full graphic on the C&EN site

Radiation exposure – something you’d undoubtedly want to avoid. But we’re all exposed to low levels of background radiation all the time, and the majority of this comes from the ground beneath our feet. The latest edition of Periodic Graphics in Chemical & Engineering News looks at how radon is generated by radioactive decay and the risks that elevated radon levels can pose to our health. Click through to the C&EN site to view the full graphic.

#NationalTattooDay – Tattoo colourants and concerns

July 17, 2020 0Comments 4Likes 249Views

Infographic on tattoo chemistry, colourants and concerns. Tattoo ink contains carriers and colourants. Historically, ground up minerals were used as tattoo pigments, but today most colourants are organic compounds, primarily azo dyes. Some of these pigments break down into compounds with known health concerns, though a causative link between tattoos and cancer has not been established. — Click to enlarge

A lot of people have tattoos: an estimated 12% of Europeans and 24% of Americans. What’s in tattoo ink, and how are different coloured tattoos produced? This graphic for National Tattoo Day (July 17) takes a look.

Nuclear waste and its disposal

April 22, 2020 0Comments 3Likes 220Views

Today (22 April) is Earth Day. While currently, we’re somewhat preoccupied with a different crisis, the climate crisis remains a pressing concern. Nuclear power is an oft-mentioned alternative to fossil fuels but comes with the associated problem of nuclear waste. Here, Matthew Harris explains some of the storage solutions and puts the problem in perspective.

Chemical concerns: the dangers of asbestos

August 14, 2018 0Comments 1Like 291Views

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Asbestos has been in the news recently, along with the health concerns surrounding it. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. has proposed a framework that opens the door to new uses of asbestos. With many other countries already banning all types of asbestos, what are the risks, and is there cause for concern?

Chemical Concerns – Fipronil and the contaminated egg scandal 11-08

Chemical Concerns – Fipronil and the egg contamination scandal

August 9, 2017 0Comments 1Like 250Views

Over the past few weeks, concern has been growing regarding the contamination of eggs for sale in a number of EU countries with the chemical Fipronil. Currently seven different countries have discovered contaminated eggs, and it has led to large number of eggs being withdrawn from sale. So, what is Fipronil, how has it gotten into eggs, and should consumers be worried?