+ Approximate equivalencesbetween classification schemes IARC GHS NTP ACGIH EU Group 1 Cat. 1A Known A1 Cat. 1A Group 2A Cat. 1B Reasonablysuspected A2 Cat. 1B Group 2B Cat. 2 A3 Cat. 2 Group 3 A4 Group 4 A5 International Agency for Research on Cancer The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is an intergovernmental agency established in 1965, which forms part of the World Health Organization of the United Nations. It is based in Lyon, France. Since 1971 it has published a series of Monographs on the Evaluation of<unk> ic Risks to Humans that have been highly influential in the classification of possible<unk> s. * Group 1: the agent (mixture) is definitely<unk> ic to humans. The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are<unk> ic to humans. * Group 2A: the agent (mixture) is probably (product more likely to be)<unk> ic to humans. The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are probably<unk> ic to humans. * Group 2B: the agent (mixture) is possibly (chance of product being)<unk> ic to humans. The exposure circumstance entails exposures that are possibly<unk> ic to humans. * Group 3: the agent (mixture or exposure circumstance) is not classifiable as to its<unk> icity to humans. * Group 4: the agent (mixture) is probably not<unk> ic to humans. Globally Harmonized System The Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) is a United Nations initiative to attempt to harmonize the different systems of assessing chemical risk which currently exist (as of March 2009) around the world. It classifies<unk> s into two categories, of which the first may be divided again into subcategories if so desired by the competent regulatory authority: * Category 1: known or presumed to have<unk> ic potential for humans * Category 1A: the assessment is based primarily on human evidence * Category 1B: the assessment is based primarily on animal evidence * Category 2: suspected human<unk> s U.S. National Toxicology Program The National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is mandated to produce a biennial Report on<unk> s. As of June 2011, the latest edition was the 12th report (2011). It classifies<unk> s into two groups: * Known to be a human<unk>  * Reasonably anticipated being a human<unk>  American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) is a private organization best known for its publication of threshold limit values (TLVs) for occupational exposure and monographs on workplace chemical hazards. It assesses<unk> icity as part of a wider assessment of the occupational hazards of chemicals. * Group A1: Confirmed human<unk>  * Group A2: Suspected human<unk>  * Group A3: Confirmed animal<unk>  with unknown relevance to humans * Group A4: Not classifiable as a human<unk>  * Group A5: Not suspected as a human<unk>  European Union The European Union classification of<unk> s is contained in the Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. It consists of three categories: * Category 1A:<unk> ic * Category 1B: May cause cancer * Category 2: Suspected of causing cancer The former European Union classification of<unk> s was contained in the Dangerous Substances Directive and the Dangerous Preparations Directive. It also consisted of three categories: * Category 1: Substances known to be<unk> ic to humans. * Category 2: Substances which should be regarded as if they are<unk> ic to humans. * Category 3: Substances which cause concern for humans, owing to possible<unk> ic effects but in respect of which the available information is not adequate for making a satisfactory assessment. This assessment scheme is being phased out in favor of the GHS scheme (see above), to which it is very close in category definitions. Safe Work Australia Under a previous name, the NOHSC, in 1999 Safe Work Australia published the Approved Criteria for Classifying Hazardous Substances NOHSC:1008(1999). Section 4.76 of this document outlines the criteria for classifying<unk> s as approved by the Australian government. This classification consists of three categories: * Category 1: Substances known to be<unk> ic to humans. * Category 2: Substances that should be regarded as if they were<unk> ic to humans. * Category 3: Substances that have possible<unk> ic effects in humans but about which there is insufficient information to make an assessment.
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