Viruses, X-Rays Join List Of Cancer Agents

Viruses, X-rays and compounds found in grilled meats joined the official list of known or suspected cancer-causing agents released on Monday. The list, issued every two years by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, also adds chemicals used in textile dyes, paints and inks. "For the first time ever, viruses are listed in the report: hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and some human papillomaviruses that cause common sexually transmitted diseases," the NIEHS said in a statement. They include the hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses, which can cause liver cancer, and human papillomaviruses, also known as human wart viruses, which are sexually transmitted and can cause cervical cancer.