Mortality among benzene-exposed workers in China

Environ Health Perspect. 1996 Dec;104 Suppl 6(Suppl 6):1349-52. doi: 10.1289/ehp.961041349.

Abstract

A large cohort of 74,828 benzene-exposed and 35,805 nonexposed workers employed between 1972 and 1987 in 12 cities in China was followed to determine mortality from all causes. Benzene-exposed study subjects were employed in a variety of occupations including coating applications, and rubber, chemical, and shoe production. Mortality was slightly increased among workers with greater cumulative exposure to benzene (ptrend < 0.05), but this excess was largely due to cancer deaths (ptrend < 0.01). Deaths due to lymphatic and hematopoietic malignancies (ptrend = 0.01) and lung cancer (ptrend = 0.01) increased with increasing cumulative exposure to benzene. Investigations continue to relate benzene exposure to specific lymphatic and hematopoietic malignancies and other causes of death.

MeSH terms

  • Benzene / toxicity*
  • China / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / chemically induced
  • Leukemia / mortality
  • Lung Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Lung Neoplasms / mortality
  • Lymphoma / chemically induced
  • Lymphoma / mortality
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / chemically induced
  • Neoplasms / mortality
  • Occupational Diseases / chemically induced*
  • Occupational Diseases / mortality*
  • Occupational Exposure*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Benzene