Benzene's toxicity: a consolidated short review of human and animal studies.
A large population of humans is exposed to benzene from various occupational and environmental sources. Benzene is an established human and animal carcinogen. Exposure to benzene has been associated with leukaemia in humans and several types of malignancies in animals. The exact mechanism of benzene-induced toxicity is poorly understood. It is believed that benzene exerts its adverse effects by metabolic activation to toxic metabolites. Certain benzene metabolites are genotoxic and mutagenic. This consolidated short-review is composed of human and animal studies to summarize the adverse effects of benzene with special reference to molecular mechanisms involved in benzene-induced toxicity.
Ahmad Khan
Haseeb
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Department of Biochemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. khan_haseeb@yahoo.com
D000818:Animals; D001554:Benzene / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D001711:Biotransformation; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D005333:Fetus / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009153:Mutagens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens; D004247:DNA; D001554:Benzene