Abstract
Aksoy, M., Dinçol, K., Akgün, T., Erdem, Ş and Dinçol, G. (1971).Brit. J. industr. Med.,28, 296-302. Haematological effects of chronic benzene poisoning in 217 workers. A haematological study consisting of the determination of RBC, WBC, PCV, platelets, and differential counts was carried out, together with bone marrow puncture and haemoglobin analyses in appropriate cases, on a control population of 100 normal people and on 217 male labourers, 95% of whom worked with solvents containing benzene in small shops manufacturing shoes under unhygienic conditions. The concentration of benzene in the workplaces ranged between 30 and 210 p.p.m., and the period of exposure between 3 months and 17 years.
In 51 of the 217 workers (23·50%) haematological abnormalities attributable to chronic benzene poisoning were detected. Thus, leucopenia was present in 9·70%, thrombocytopenia in 1·84%, leucopenia associated with thrombocytopenia in 4·6%, pancytopenia in 2·76%, acquired pseudo-Pelger-Huet anomaly in 0·46%, lymphocytosis in 0·46%, giant platelets in 0·46%, eosinophilia in 2·30%, basophilia in 0·46%, and eosinophilia associated with basophilia in 0·46% (the maximum normal levels for eosinophils and basophils were 8% and 2% respectively).
Acquired pseudo-Pelger-Huet anomaly was detected in a worker with heterozygous betathalassaemia (HbA2 4·1% and HbF 8·7%) in whom the only effect of benzene was on the leucocyte nuclei, all other haematological values being within normal limits. On the other hand, in 33·1% of the workers the haemoglobin was less than 12 g/100 ml and in 32·7% the PCV was less than 40% with the MCV ranging between 86 and 96 μm3. In none of them did MCV exceed 100 μm3. Thirty-one per cent. of these anaemic workers were treated with adequate doses of oral iron, which resulted, in all cases, in a complete disappearance of the anaemia. Therefore, it is difficult to attribute this anaemia to the effect of benzene alone.
Thus it is concluded that benzene exerts its harmful effect, primarily on the leucocytes, with eosinophilia and basophilia as inconstant findings, secondarily on the platelets causing thrombocytopenia, and finally on all three series giving rise to pancytopenia.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Aksoy M., Erdem S. Some problems of hemoglobin patterns in different thalassemic syndromes showing the heterogeneity of beta-thalassemia genes. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1969 Nov 20;165(1):13–24. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1969.tb27772.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- BRECHER G., CRONKITE E. P. Morphology and enumeration of human blood platelets. J Appl Physiol. 1950 Dec;3(6):365–377. doi: 10.1152/jappl.1950.3.6.365. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Balkuv S., Ulutin O. Trombosit agregasyon defektlerini meydana çikarmak için yeni basit bir metod. Tip Fak Mecm. 1968 Oct;30(3):431–436. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- KUEHBOECK J., LACHNIT V. [On the problem of the early diagnosis of benzene and toluene injuries]. Int Arch Gewerbepathol Gewerbehyg. 1962 Apr 16;19:149–157. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- PATERNI L., RUSSO G. [First case of Pelger's anomaly in benzene hemopathy; association with cellular nanism]. Haematologica. 1960;45:213–220. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- RESEGOTTI L. Survey of the Italian literature on industrial medicine. Panminerva Med. 1960 Mar;2:142–143. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SAITA G., MOREO L. Talassemia ed emopatie professionali. I. Talassemia e benzolismo cronico. Med Lav. 1959 Jan;50(1):25–36. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SAVILAHTI M. Mehr als 100 Vergiftungsfälle durch Benzol in einer Schuhfabrik; Beobachtungen über hämatologische Symptome und Krankheitsverlauf während eines Jahres. Arch Gewerbepathol Gewerbehyg. 1956;15(2):147–157. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- SINGER K., CHERNOFF A. I., SINGER L. Studies on abnormal hemoglobins. I. Their demonstration in sickle cell anemia and other hematologic disorders by means of alkali denaturation. Blood. 1951 May;6(5):413–428. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]