WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Estrogen, female hormone used in birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy, should be listed as a known cancer-causing agent, US government advisers say.

The hormone, which has long been associated with breast and uterine cancers, should be added to the latest report on cancer-causing agents, the advisers to the National Toxicology Panel (NTP) said.

Estrogens occur naturally in both women and men, but birth control pills that use estrogen have been linked to an increase in the risk of some cancers.

The advisers also recommended Friday that wood dust and ultraviolet radiation be listed as known carcinogens. Ordinary talc, which has been under suspicion, was cleared for the time being by the panel.

They recommended that three chemicals be added to the list of compounds that can be ``reasonably anticipated'' to cause cancer.

They are methyleugenol, which adds flavor to spices such as cinnamon, mace, and black pepper, as well as to bananas, metallic nickel as used in some industries, and trichloroethylene, used to de-grease metal parts.

The NTP is expected to issue its latest report on carcinogens next year.