Hematologic Effects of Benzene: a Thirty-Five Year Longitudinal Study of Rubber Workers

Abstract

We studied over 17,000 peripheral blood counts, accumulated during surveillance from 1940 through 1975, from a cohort of 459 benzene-exposed workers. Linear regressions demonstrated significant decreases in white and red cell counts, as well as hemoglobin, for workers exposed during the 1940's, without persistent trends over the ensuing 25 years. Strongly positive correlations were observed between these blood count fluctuations and fluctuations in retrospective estimates of benzene exposures for this plant for the earlier periods of surveillance (mean estimated exposure 1940 to 1948, 75 ppm), but not for later years (mean estimated exposure 1948 to 1975, 15 to 20 ppm). These data suggest substantial limitations of hematologic examination of populations to detect abnormalities in populations currently exposed to benzene. The data also demonstrate a novel approach to the biological validation of exposure estimates based upon limited industrial hygiene and historical record data.

Keywords

benzene exposure hematological effects surveillance.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Aksoy, M. , Dincol, K. , Akgun, T. , Erdem, S. and Dincol, G. (1971). Haematological effects of chronic benzene poisoning in 217 workers. BJIM 28:296-302.

Cody, R.P. and Smith, J.K. (1987). Applied statistics and the SAS Programming Language, Second Ed. North Holland, Amsterdam .

Crump, K. and Allen, B. (1984). Quantitative estimates of risk of leukemia from occupational exposure to benzene. OSHA Docket H-059B.

Fishbeck, W.A. , Townsend, J.C. and Swank, M.G. (1978). Effect of chronic occupational exposure to measured concentrations of benzene. JOM 20:539-542.

Goldstein, B.D. (1977). Hematotoxicity in humans. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health 2(Suppl.):69-105.

International Agency For Research On Cancer (Iarc). (1982). Chemicals, Industrial Processes and Industries Associated with Cancer in Humans. IARC Monographs, Volumes 1 to 29, Supplement 4.

Greenburg, L. , Mayers, M.R. , Goldwater, L. and Smith, A.R. (1939). Benzene (benzol) poisoning in the rotogravure printing industry in New York City. Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 21:395-420.

Infante, P.F. , Rinsky, R.A. , Wagoner, J.R. and Young, R.J. (1977). Leukemia in benzene workers. Lancet 2:76-78.

Kipen, H.M. , Cody, R.P. and Goldstein, B.D. (1986). Preliminary Report of Pliofilm Cohort Hematology . OSHA Docket H-059C. Exhibit 204-7.

10.

Kipen, H.M. , Cody, R.P. and Goldstein, B.D. (1987). Report of Pliofilm Cohort Hematology. OSHA Docket H-059C. Exhibit 267.B. ,

11.

LE Noir, C. (1897). Bull. Mem. Soc. Med. Paris 14:1251.

12.

Maltoni, C. , Conti, B. and Cotti, G. (1983). Benzene: A multipotential carcinogen. Results of long-term bioassays performed at the Bologna Institute of Oncology. Am. J. Indust. Med. 4:589-630.

13.

Moszczynski, P. and Lisiewicz, J. (1982). T and B cells and occupational exposure to benzene and its homologues (with regard to other blood cells). Rev. Esp. Oncologia 29:49-55.

14.

Moszczynski, P. and Lisiewicz, J. (1983). Effect of environmental contamination of the workplace with benzene, toluene, and xylene on human lymphocyte associated immunity . Med. Lav. 74:492-498.

15.

Rinsky, R.A. , Young, R.J. and Smith, A.B. (1981). Leukemia in benzene workers. Am. J. Indust. Med. 2:217-245.

16.

Rinsky, R.A. , Smith, A.B. , Hornung, R. , Filloon, T.G. , Young, R.J. , Okun, A.H. and Landrigan, P.J. (1987). Benzene and Leukemia : An epidemiologic risk assessment . USDHEW, PHS, CDC, NIOSH.

17.

Rinsky, R.A. , Smith, A.B. , Hornung, R. , Filloon, T.G. , Young, R.J. , Okun, A.H. and Landrigan, P.J. (1987). Benzene and leukemia: An epidemiologic risk assessment . NEJM 316:1044-1050.

18.

Rosen, M. , Snyder, C. and Albert, R. (1984). Depressions in B and T-lymphocyte mitogen induced blastogenesis in mice exposed to low concentrations of benzene. Toxicol. Lett. 20:343.

19.

Tabershaw, I.R. and Lamm, S.H. (1977). Benzene and leukemia (letter). Lancet 2:867-868.

20.

Townsend, J.C. , Ott, M.G. and Fishbeck, W.A. (1978). Health exam findings among individuals occupationally exposed to benzene. JOM 20:543-548.

21.

Tsai, S.P. , Wen, C.P. , Weiss, N.S. , Wong, O. , McClellan, W.A. and Gibson, R.L. (1983). Retrospective mortality and medical surveillance studies of workers in benzene areas of refineries. JOM 25:685-692.

22.

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Division of Labor Standards. (1942). Conference on Health Hazards in the Rubber Industry. Akron, Ohio, May 29.

23.

Wilson, R.H. (1942). Benzene poisoning in industry. J. Lab. and Clin. Med. 1517-1521.