Three of the most universally encountered substances of modern life-environmental tobacco smoke, alcoholic beverages and diesel exhaust-will be reviewed December 2-3 for listing in the federal government's Ninth Report on Carcinogens, at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Other substances or processes to be reviewed for listing, de-listing, or upgrading from "reasonably anticipated" to "known" human carcinogens are nickel compounds, crystalline silica, boot and shoe manufacturing and repair, ethyl acrylate, ethylene oxide, isoprene, methyl-t-butyl ether, and dioxin.

Mandated by Congress, the federal reports on carcinogens are prepared by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), headquartered at NIEHS, part of the National Institutes of Health (http://www.nih.gov) and the Department of Health and Human Services (http://www.dhhs.gov).

The NTP Board of Scientific Counselors' Report on Carcinogens Subcommittee will meet December 2-3, beginning at 8:30 a.m. both days. The sessions are open to media and the public, and pre-scheduled public comment will be heard. Media representatives planning to attend the sessions are asked to contact Tom Hawkins, NIEHS news director, at (919) 541-1402, so that press kits and assistance can be provided and parking arranged.