Meyron

Reference summary — not medical advice or a personal risk estimate.

Indoor emissions from coal combustion

Group 1 — carcinogenic to humansAir & EnvironmentchemicalEvidence: sufficient_in_humans

Quick answer

Classified as Group 1 — carcinogenic to humans, based on sufficient evidence in humans. Breathed. Burning coal indoors for cooking or heating, especially in unvented stoves. Mainly a concern in regions where this is common practice.

Summary

Burning coal indoors for cooking and heating releases pollutants associated with lung cancer.

Detail

Indoor emissions from household combustion of coal are Group 1 with sufficient evidence for lung cancer. Exposure is mainly a problem in regions where unvented coal is used for cooking or heating. Switching fuels and improving ventilation substantially reduces risk.

What's not established

This classification is based on sufficient evidence in humans that this factor can cause cancer. It does not establish a safe exposure threshold, your personal risk, or how this factor's risk compares in size to other Group 1 agents — hazard classifications are not ranked by magnitude.

Regional relevance

developing_countriesrural

regional

Evidence sources

Every claim on this page traces back to one of these. Click through to read the primary document yourself.

Primary sources

NCI

NCI — Cancer-Causing Substances in the Environment

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IARC

IARC Monographs — Classifications by Cancer Site, Vols 1–140

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Supporting sources

ACS

ACS — Known and Probable Human Carcinogens

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NTP

NTP — Report on Carcinogens (US National Toxicology Program)

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Last reviewed: October 2026

Official reference list

A government list some readers use alongside the primary evidence. Meyron is not affiliated with it. A chemical being listed does not by itself describe a risk from any particular product.