Abstract
This report updates the risk assessment by Crump and Allen for benzene-induced leukemia that was based on a cohort exposed to benzene in the manufacture of Pliofilm. The present study derives new risk estimates using data from follow-up through 1987 (whereas the earlier assessment only had follow-up available through 1978) and uses new exposure information for this cohort developed by Paustenbach et al. that accounts for a number of factors that were unknown or not fully evaluated in earlier exposure assessments. There was a significant excess of acute myelocytic or acute monocytic leukemia (AMML) (8-10 observed, 1.61 expected) in this cohort, and this end point also exhibited a strong dose-response trend. No other types of lymphatic or hematopoietic cancer were clearly linked to benzene exposure. Quantitative risk estimates were robust with respect to whether AMML or all leukemia was being modeled. They were also robust with respect whether the Paustenbach et al. or Crump and Allen exposure estimates were used (differences in risk estimates of no greater than 2-fold) as long as linear dose-response models were applied. However, whereas the Crump and Allen exposures predicted a linear dose response, the Paustenbach et al. exposures predicted a quadratic dose response. This departure from linearity was borderline significant (p = 0.08). Estimates of additional lifetime from 45 years of occupational exposure (lifetime exposure) to 1 ppm derived using he Paustenbach et al. exposure matrix and best-fitting (quadratic) models ranged from 0.020 to 0.036 per thousand, whereas corresponding estimates based on a linear dose response ranged from 1.6 to 3.1 per thousand.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Crump K. S. Risk of benzene-induced leukemia: a sensitivity analysis of the pliofilm cohort with additional follow-up and new exposure estimates. J Toxicol Environ Health. 1994 Jun;42(2):219–242. doi: 10.1080/15287399409531875. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Darby S. C., Doll R., Gill S. K., Smith P. G. Long term mortality after a single treatment course with X-rays in patients treated for ankylosing spondylitis. Br J Cancer. 1987 Feb;55(2):179–190. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1987.35. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Infante P. F., Rinsky R. A., Wagoner J. K., Young R. J. Leukaemia in benzene workers. Lancet. 1977 Jul 9;2(8028):76–78. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(77)90074-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Kipen H. M., Cody R. P., Crump K. S., Allen B. C., Goldstein B. D. Hematologic effects of benzene: a thirty-five year longitudinal study of rubber workers. Toxicol Ind Health. 1988 Dec;4(4):411–430. doi: 10.1177/074823378800400401. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Paustenbach D. J., Price P. S., Ollison W., Blank C., Jernigan J. D., Bass R. D., Peterson H. D. Reevaluation of benzene exposure for the Pliofilm (rubberworker) cohort (1936-1976). J Toxicol Environ Health. 1992 Jul;36(3):177–231. doi: 10.1080/15287399209531633. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Paxton M. B., Chinchilli V. M., Brett S. M., Rodricks J. V. Leukemia risk associated with benzene exposure in the pliofilm cohort: I. Mortality update and exposure distribution. Risk Anal. 1994 Apr;14(2):147–154. doi: 10.1111/j.1539-6924.1994.tb00039.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rinsky R. A., Smith A. B., Hornung R., Filloon T. G., Young R. J., Okun A. H., Landrigan P. J. Benzene and leukemia. An epidemiologic risk assessment. N Engl J Med. 1987 Apr 23;316(17):1044–1050. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198704233161702. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Rinsky R. A., Young R. J., Smith A. B. Leukemia in benzene workers. Am J Ind Med. 1981;2(3):217–245. doi: 10.1002/ajim.4700020305. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]