Hematotoxicity in Workers Exposed to Low Levels of Benzene

Qing Lan(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Luoping Zhang(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Guilan Li(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Roel Vermeulen(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Rona Singer Weinberg(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Mustafa Dosemeci(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Stephen M. Rappaport(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Min Shen(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Blanche P. Alter(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Yongji Wu(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), William Kopp(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Suramya Waidyanatha(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Charles S. Rabkin(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Weihong Guo(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Stephen J. Chanock(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Richard B. Hayes(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Martha S. Linet(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Sungkyoon Kim(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Songnian Yin(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Nathaniel Rothman(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill), Martyn T. Smith(University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
Science
December 2, 2004
10.1126/science.1102443
Cited by 623Open Access
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Abstract

Benzene is known to have toxic effects on the blood and bone marrow, but its impact at levels below the U.S. occupational standard of 1 part per million (ppm) remains uncertain. In a study of 250 workers exposed to benzene, white blood cell and platelet counts were significantly lower than in 140 controls, even for exposure below 1 ppm in air. Progenitor cell colony formation significantly declined with increasing benzene exposure and was more sensitive to the effects of benzene than was the number of mature blood cells. Two genetic variants in key metabolizing enzymes, myeloperoxidase and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, influenced susceptibility to benzene hematotoxicity. Thus, hematotoxicity from exposure to benzene occurred at air levels of 1 ppm or less and may be particularly evident among genetically susceptible subpopulations.

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