Leukemia risk assessment of exposure to low-levels of benzene based on the linearized multistage model.

Objectives: To assess leukemia risk in occupational populations exposed to low levels of benzene.

Methods: Leukemia incidence data from the Chinese Benzene Cohort Study were fitted using the Linearized multistage (LMS) model. Individual benzene exposure levels, urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) and trans, trans-muconic acid (-MA) were measured among 98 benzene-exposed workers from factories in China.

Benzene metabolite hydroquinone enhances self-renewal and proliferation of preleukemic cells through the Ppar-γ pathway.

Benzene is a known hematotoxic and leukemogenic chemical. Exposure to benzene cause inhibition of hematopoietic cells. However, the mechanism of how the hematopoietic cells inhibited by benzene undergo malignant proliferation is unknown.

Industry Distribution Characteristics of Benzene-Exposed Workers with Cytopenia - Four Provinces, China, 2020.

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Benzene is harmful to the hematopoietic system and can cause leukemia. However, benzene is still being used in various industries including furniture, rubber, plastic products, and metal product manufacturing.

What Is Added By This Report?: The white blood cell count of workers in general equipment, special equipment, chemical raw materials, and chemical products manufacturing decreased significantly.

Industry Distribution Characteristics of Benzene-Induced Leukemia - 7 PLADs, China, 2005-2019.

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: In the 1980s. benzene-induced leukemia (BIL) mainly occurred in shoemaking and painting industries. Now the industry distribution of benzene-induced leukemia may have changed over time.

The Distribution and Concentration Monitoring of Benzene Industries - Six PLADs, China, 2020.

What Is Already Known About This Topic?: Benzene is classified as a Class I human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Long-term exposure to benzene increases the risk of chronic benzene poisoning and leukemia. However, benzene is still widely used in the manufacturing industry.

Characteristics in the Distribution of Chronic Benzene Poisoning Associated Industries - 6 PLADs, China, 2005-2019.

Starting in the early 1950s, the main industries in China associated with chronic benzene poisoning (CBP) included painting, pharmaceuticals, and shoemaking. However, because of rapid socioeconomic development, the distribution of industries associated with CBP likely changed. From 2005 to 2019, CBP has become an increasingly important type of chronic occupational poisoning (COP) in China.