Malignancies due to occupational exposure to benzene

Abstract

There is no doubt about the leukemogenic effect of benzene in man. The evidence is as follows: (1) The incidence of leukemia in shoeworkers exposed to benzene in a period of 8 years in Istanbul was 13.6/100,000, which is significantly higher than that for leukemia in the general population. (2) Following the phase-out of benzene in Istanbul, the number of leukemic workers decreased and none were reported in the subsequent 3 years. (3) The development of leukemia in pancytopenic patients with benzene exposure was observed in 13 out of 51 patients. (4) The differences in the distribution of the types of leukemia in individuals exposed and in nonexposed groups were as follows: acute leukemia 96.1% in the former group, and 46% in the latter group. The high percentages of acute erythroleukemia and preleukemia were other interesting findings in the exposed group. (5) Two cases of leukemia were observed in a 6-year period at a tire cord manufacturing plant with 550 workers. At one location in the plant the concentration of benzene measured by gas chromatography was nearly 110 ppm. Additionally, we have studied 12 cases of malignant lymphoma, four cases of multiple myeloma, and six cases of lung cancer, all of whom were chronically exposed to benzene. The possible role of benzene in the etiology of these malignancies is discussed.