Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

20.5 Lymphohematopoietic study of workers exposed to benzene 1363
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20.5 LYMPHOHEMATOPOIETIC STUDY OF WORKERS EXPOSED TO
BENZENE INCLUDING MULTIPLE MYELOMA, LYMPHOMA AND
CHRONIC LYMPHATIC LEUKEMIA
Nachman Brautbar
University of Southern California, School of Medicine,
Department of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
20.5.1 INTRODUCTION
Benzene, is an aromatic hydrocarbon and historically has been produced during the process
of coal tar distillation and coke production, while today benzene is produced mainly by the
petrochemical industry. Based on the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH), in the United States, it has been estimated that in 1976 two million Americans
were exposed occupationally to benzene. 1 Worldwide production of benzene is approximately
15 million tons 2 and the production in the United States is estimated to be increasing
at least 3% annually, 3 approaching 6 million tons of benzene produced in the United States
in 1990 and 6.36 million tons produced in 1993. 2 Benzene has been described as a clear,
colorless, non-corrosive, and flammable liquid with a strong odor.
Benzene is used as an excellent solvent and degreasing agent, and as a basic aromatic
unit in the synthetic process of other chemicals. 4 Exposure to benzene in the occupational
setting most commonly occurs in the chemical, printing, rubber, paint, and petroleum industry.
Among other sources of exposure to benzene, non-occupational exposures in the form
of cigarette smoking and exposure to gasoline and its vapors during fueling motor vehicles. 5
20.5.2 ROUTES OF EXPOSURE
The major route of exposure to benzene is inhalation through the lungs of benzene vapors,
however skin absorption of benzene has been shown to be significant depending on the circumstances
of the exposure such as time of contact between the benzene and the skin. 1,6
Benzene absorption, as other solvents, through the skin is enhanced if the skin condition is
altered by either disease or loss of skin or cracking of the skin. 4 The dermal absorption of
benzene deserves much more attention than previously described in various texts of toxicol-