
Much of the work carried out by DTT is in support of the National Toxicology Program (NTP), an interagency partnership of the Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and NIEHS.
Report on Carcinogens
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Ruth M. Lunn, Dr.P.H.
Head, Report on Carcinogens -
Tel 984-287-3155
Fax 301-480-2970
[email protected] -
P.O. Box 12233Mail Drop K2-14Durham, NC 27709
Ruth Lunn, Dr.P.H., is the director of the Office of the Report on Carcinogens. The RoC is a congressionally-mandated document, prepared on behalf of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services that lists and discusses substances that cause or are anticipated to cause cancer. Preparation of the RoC follows a formal, multi-step process that includes scientific review and opportunity for public comment. Lunn provides scientific expertise needed for the overall evaluation of substances for their potential to cause cancer in humans and is responsible for preparing the final draft of the RoC. She has worked with the RoC since 2000, initially as a staff scientist, and later as director or head of the RoC. During this time, she led or contributed to over 50 published cancer hazard assessments, developed methods for conducting systematic reviews, and co-authored numerous publications related to cancer hazards, including an analysis that evaluated the influence of the RoC. Lunn also serves on national and international scientific committees and working groups.
Prior to joining the RoC, she completed postdoctoral work at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and received a Dr.P.H. in environmental health sciences from Columbia University, New York, New York. She also earned a M.S. in microbiology and immunology and a Master of Clinical Microbiology (M.C.M.) from Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Selected Publications
- World Health Organization. 2024. Statistical Methods in Cancer Research Volume V: Bias Assessment in Case–Control and Cohort Studies for Hazard Identification. ISBN-13:978-92-832-2228-6. [Full Text]
- Beard S, Freeman K, Velasco ML, Boyd W, Chamberlain T, Latoni A, Lasko D, Lunn RM, O'Fallon L, Packenham J, Smarr MM, Arnette R, Cavalier-Keck C, Keck J, Muhammad N, Wilson O, Wilson B, Wilson A, Dixon D. 2024. Racism as a public health issue in environmental health disparities and environmental justice: working toward solutions. Environ Health 23(1):8. [Abstract]
- Mehta SS, Morin I, Osborn K, Lemeris CR, Conti M, Lunn RM. 2023. An Approach to Assessing the Influence of Environmental and Occupational Cancer Hazard Identification on Policy Decision-Making. Environ Health Perspect 131(12):125001. [Abstract]
- Lunn RM, Mehta SS, Jahnke GD, Wang A, Wolfe MS, Berridge BR. 2022. Cancer hazard evaluations for contemporary needs: Highlights from new National Toxicology Program evaluations and methodological advancements. J Natl Cancer Inst 114(11):1441-1448. [Abstract Lunn RM, Mehta SS, Jahnke GD, Wang A, Wolfe MS, Berridge BR. 2022. Cancer hazard evaluations for contemporary needs: Highlights from new National Toxicology Program evaluations and methodological advancements. J Natl Cancer Inst 114(11):1441-1448.]
- Samet JM, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Lunn RM, Schubauer-Berigan MK. 2022. Commentary: Role and communications of cancer hazard determinations. Carcinogenesis 43(2):79-81. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgac001. [Abstract Samet JM, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Lunn RM, Schubauer-Berigan MK. 2022. Commentary: Role and communications of cancer hazard determinations. Carcinogenesis 43(2):79-81. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgac001.]
- Patel AP, Mehta SS, White AJ, Niehoff NM, Arroyave WD, Wang A, Lunn RM. 2021. Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites and mortality in the United States: A prospective analysis. PLoS One 16(6):e0252719. [Abstract]
- National Toxicology Program. 2021. NTP Cancer Hazard Assessment Report on Night Shift Work and Light at Night. Research Triangle Park (NC): National Toxicology Program. [Abstract]
- Schwingl PJ, Lunn RM, Mehta SS. 2021. A tiered approach to prioritizing registered pesticides for potential cancer hazard evaluations: implications for decision making. Environ Health 20(1):13. [Abstract]
- NTP (National Toxicology Program). 2021. Report on Carcinogens, Fifteenth Edition. Research Triangle Park, NC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. [Full Text]
- Holmgren SD, Boyles RR, Cronk RD, Duncan CG, Kwok RK, Lunn RM, Osborn KC, Thessen AE, Schmitt CP. 2021. Catalyzing Knowledge-Driven Discovery in Environmental Health Sciences through a Community-Driven Harmonized Language. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(17):8985. [Abstract Holmgren SD, Boyles RR, Cronk RD, Duncan CG, Kwok RK, Lunn RM, Osborn KC, Thessen AE, Schmitt CP. 2021. Catalyzing Knowledge-Driven Discovery in Environmental Health Sciences through a Community-Driven Harmonized Language. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(17):8985.]
- Steenland K, Schubauer-Berigan MK, Vermeulen R, Lunn RM, Straif K, Zahm S, Stewart P, Arroyave WD, Mehta SS, Pearce N. 2020. Risk of Bias Assessments and Evidence Syntheses for Observational Epidemiologic Studies of Environmental and Occupational Exposures: Strengths and Limitations. Environ Health Perspect 128(9):95002. [Abstract]
- Atwood ST, Lunn RM, Garner SC, Jahnke GD. 2019. New Perspectives for Cancer Hazard Evaluation by the Report on Carcinogens: A Case Study Using Read-Across Methods in the Evaluation of Haloacetic Acids Found as Water Disinfection By-Products. Environ Health Perspect 127(12):125003. [Abstract]
- Mehta SS, Arroyave WD, Lunn RM, Park YM, Boyd WA, Sandler DP. 2020. A Prospective Analysis of Red and Processed Meat Consumption and Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 29(1):141-150. [Abstract]
- Honaryar MK, Lunn RM, Luce D, Ahrens W, 't Mannetje A, Hansen J, Bouaoun L, Loomis D, Byrnes G, Vilahur N, Stayner L, Guha N. 2019. Welding fumes and lung cancer: a meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies. Occup Environ Med 76(6):422-431. [Abstract]
- Samet JM, Chiu WA, Cogliano V, Jinot J, Kriebel D, Lunn RM, Beland FA, Bero L, Browne P, Fritschi L, Kanno J, Lachenmeier DW, Lan Q, Lasfargues G, Curieux FL, Peters S, Shubat P, Sone H, White MC, Williamson J, Yakubovskaya M, Siemiatycki J, White PA, Guyton KZ, Schubauer-Berigan MK, Hall AL, Grosse Y, Bouvard V, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Ghissassi FE, Lauby-Secretan B, Armstrong B, Saracci R, Zavadil J, Straif K, Wild CP. 2019. The IARC Monographs: Updated procedures for modern and transparent evidence synthesis in cancer hazard identification. Journal of the National Cancer Institute; doi: 10.1093/jnci/djz169 [Online 9 September 2019]. [Abstract Samet JM, Chiu WA, Cogliano V, Jinot J, Kriebel D, Lunn RM, Beland FA, Bero L, Browne P, Fritschi L, Kanno J, Lachenmeier DW, Lan Q, Lasfargues G, Curieux FL, Peters S, Shubat P, Sone H, White MC, Williamson J, Yakubovskaya M, Siemiatycki J, White PA, Guyton KZ, Schubauer-Berigan MK, Hall AL, Grosse Y, Bouvard V, Benbrahim-Tallaa L, Ghissassi FE, Lauby-Secretan B, Armstrong B, Saracci R, Zavadil J, Straif K, Wild CP. 2019. The IARC Monographs: Updated procedures for modern and transparent evidence synthesis in cancer hazard identification. Journal of the National Cancer Institute; doi: 10.1093/jnci/djz169 [Online 9 September 2019].]
- Shapiro AJ, Antoni S, Guyton KZ, Lunn RM, Loomis D, Rusyn I, Jahnke GD, Schwingl PJ, Mehta SS, Addington J, Guha N. 2018. Software Tools to Facilitate Systematic Review Used for Cancer Hazard Identification. Environ Health Perspect 126(10):104501. [Abstract]
- National Toxicology Program. 2018. Report on Carcinogens Monograph on Antimony Trioxide: RoC Monograph 13 [Internet]. Research Triangle Park (NC): National Toxicology Program. [Abstract]
- National Toxicology Program. 2018. Report on Carcinogens Monograph on Helicobacter pylori (Chronic Infection): RoC Monograph 14 [Internet]. Research Triangle Park (NC): National Toxicology Program. [Abstract]
- National Toxicology Program. 2018. Report on Carcinogens Monograph on Haloacetic Acids Found as Water Disinfection By-Products: RoC Monograph 12 [Internet]. Research Triangle Park (NC): National Toxicology Program. [Abstract]
- Lunn RM, Jahnke GD, Rabkin CS. 2017. Tumour virus epidemiology. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 372(1732):20160266. [Abstract]
- Lunn RM, Blask DE, Coogan AN, Figueiro MG, Gorman MR, Hall JE, Hansen J, Nelson RJ, Panda S, Smolensky MH, Stevens RG, Turek FW, Vermeulen R, Carreón T, Caruso CC, Lawson CC, Thayer KA, Twery MJ, Ewens AD, Garner SC, Schwingl PJ, Boyd WA. 2017. Health consequences of electric lighting practices in the modern world: A report on the National Toxicology Program's workshop on shift work at night, artificial light at night, and circadian disruption. Sci Total Environ 607-608:1073-1084. [Abstract]
- Rooney AA, Cooper GS, Jahnke GD, Lam J, Morgan RL, Boyles AL, Ratcliffe JM, Kraft AD, Schünemann H, Schwingl P, Walker TD, Thayer KA, Lunn RM. How credible are the study results? Evaluating and applying internal validity tools to literature-based assessments of environmental health hazards. Environment International 2016 92-93():617-629 [Abstract Rooney AA, Cooper GS, Jahnke GD, Lam J, Morgan RL, Boyles AL, Ratcliffe JM, Kraft AD, Schünemann H, Schwingl P, Walker TD, Thayer KA, Lunn RM. How credible are the study results? Evaluating and applying internal validity tools to literature-based assessments of environmental health hazards. Environment International 2016 92-93():617-629]
- Cooper GS, Lunn RM, Ågerstrand M, Glenn BS, Kraft AD, Luke A, Ratcliffe JM. Study sensitivity: Evaluating the ability to detect effects in systematic reviews of chemical exposures. Environment international 2016 92-93():605-610. [Abstract Cooper GS, Lunn RM, Ågerstrand M, Glenn BS, Kraft AD, Luke A, Ratcliffe JM. Study sensitivity: Evaluating the ability to detect effects in systematic reviews of chemical exposures. Environment international 2016 92-93():605-610.]
- Ward, E.M., Schulte, P.A., Straif, K., Hopf, N.B., Caldwell, J.C., Carreén T., DeMarini, D.M., Fowler, B.A., Goldstein, B.D., Hemminki, K., Husgafvel, Pursiainen K., Kuempel, E., Lewtas, J., Lunn, R.M., Lynge, E., McElvenny, D.M., Muhle, H., Nakajima, T., and Robertson, L.W.; IARC Working group. Research Recommendations for Selected IARC-Classified Agents. Environ Health Perspect, 118(10):1355-1362, 2010. [Abstract Ward, E.M., Schulte, P.A., Straif, K., Hopf, N.B., Caldwell, J.C., Carreén T., DeMarini, D.M., Fowler, B.A., Goldstein, B.D., Hemminki, K., Husgafvel, Pursiainen K., Kuempel, E., Lewtas, J., Lunn, R.M., Lynge, E., McElvenny, D.M., Muhle, H., Nakajima, T., and Robertson, L.W.; IARC Working group. Research Recommendations for Selected IARC-Classified Agents. Environ Health Perspect, 118(10):1355-1362, 2010.]
- Lunn, R.M., Helzlsouer, K.J., Parshad, R., Sanford, K.K., and Bell, D.A, XPD polymorphisms: Effects on DNA repair proficiency. Carcinogenesis, 21: 551-555, 2000. [Abstract Lunn, R.M., Helzlsouer, K.J., Parshad, R., Sanford, K.K., and Bell, D.A, XPD polymorphisms: Effects on DNA repair proficiency. Carcinogenesis, 21: 551-555, 2000.]
- Lunn R.M., Langlois, R.G., Hsieh, L.L., Thompson, C.L., and Bell, D.A., XRCC1 polymorphisms: Effects on AFB1-DNA adducts and GPA variant frequency. Cancer Res., 59: 2557-2561, 1999. [Abstract Lunn R.M., Langlois, R.G., Hsieh, L.L., Thompson, C.L., and Bell, D.A., XRCC1 polymorphisms: Effects on AFB1-DNA adducts and GPA variant frequency. Cancer Res., 59: 2557-2561, 1999.]
- Lunn R, M., Bell, D.A., Mohler, J.A., and Taylor, J.A. Prostate cancer risk and polymorphism in 17 hydroxylase (CYP17) and steroid reductase (SRD5A2). Carcinogenesis, 20: 1727-1731, 1999. [Abstract Lunn R, M., Bell, D.A., Mohler, J.A., and Taylor, J.A. Prostate cancer risk and polymorphism in 17 hydroxylase (CYP17) and steroid reductase (SRD5A2). Carcinogenesis, 20: 1727-1731, 1999.]
- Lunn, R. M., Zhang, Y. J., Wang, L. Y., Chen, C. J., Lee, P. H., Lee, C. S., Tsai, W. Y., and Santella, R. M. p53 mutations, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, and aflatoxin exposure in hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan. Cancer Res, 57: 3471-3477, 1997. [Abstract Lunn, R. M., Zhang, Y. J., Wang, L. Y., Chen, C. J., Lee, P. H., Lee, C. S., Tsai, W. Y., and Santella, R. M. p53 mutations, chronic hepatitis B virus infection, and aflatoxin exposure in hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan. Cancer Res, 57: 3471-3477, 1997.]