The class of aromatic nitro compounds was studied in order to nominate chemicals to the National Cancer Institute as candidates for carcinogen bioassay. After application of several qualifying criteria relating to previous, current, or planned carcinogenicity tests and to commercial significance, the preliminary candidate list of 441 chemicals was reduced to a list of 210 chemicals. Based upon consideration of both the suspicion of possible carcinogenic activity and evidence indicating potential exposure, the following 14 chemicals were nominated: 4‐chloro‐2‐nitroaniline; 2,4‐dinitroaniline; 4‐nitroaniline; benefin; 2‐bromo‐4,6‐dinitro‐aniline; 2‐nitroanisole; nitrobenzene; 4,4'‐dinitro‐2,2'‐stilbene‐disulfonic acid; l,8‐dihydroxy‐4,5‐dinitroanthraquinone; C.I. Pigment Red 3; C.I. Pigment Orange 5; C.I. Pigment Red 23; C.I. Pigment Yellow 74; and 2‐amino‐6‐nitrobenzothiazole.