Handbook of Solvents - George Wypych - ChemTech - Ventech!

1368 Nachman Brautbar
Figure 20.5.2. Extrapolations of levels of exposure to benzene. [Adapted, by permission, from R.A. Rinsky, New
England J. Med., 1987.]
Figure 20.5.3. Extrapolations of levels of exposure to benzene. [Adapted, by permission, from R.A. Rinsky, New
England J. Med., 1987.]
that the only safe level of exposure to benzene is no exposure at all. Rightly so, the paper
based that opinion on the fact that the body develops no tolerance to benzene and there is
wide variation in individual susceptibility and therefore the only absolutely safe concentration
for benzene is zero. This approach has been confirmed from a point of view of epidemiological
studies and experimental animal studies showing benzene to cause cancer in
experimental animals, and case reports and epidemiological studies in humans. Based on
epidemiological studies and extrapolation from experimental animal studies, IARC’s position
is that a linear regression line should be applied for the dose response crossing the zero
point for low level exposure of benzene. The EPA concurred that at low levels of exposure
(since no epidemiological studies are available at low levels of exposure) linear dose response
is indicated. The modalities of exponential dose response relationship for low levels