title: Peripheral blood effects in benzene-exposed workers.
abstract: The hematotoxic effects of benzene exposure may be important in the occurrence of subsequent health effects. We sought to provide further information on peripheral blood effects by studying 928 workers in five factories in and around Shanghai, China exposed to a wide range of benzene concentrations. Specifically, we sought to investigate which blood indices are more strongly related to benzene exposure and which concentration levels of benzene result in peripheral blood changes. Lifestyle habits and demographic information was obtained via questionnaire, and potentially important genetic influences were determined by assessing single nucleotide polymorphisms in four genes (NQO1, MPO, CYP2E1, GSTT1). Weekly benzene exposure estimated from individual monitoring results ranged from 0.07 to 872 mg/m(3) with a median value of 7.4 mg/m(3). Twelve peripheral blood indices were examined. Stronger effects on peripheral blood were seen for red cell indices such as anemia and macrocytosis, albeit at higher (>10 ppm) exposure levels. The most sensitive parameters to benzene appeared to be neutrophils and the mean platelet volume (MPV), where effects were seen for benzene air concentrations of 7.8-8.2 ppm. Toluene exposure is a potential confounder for some peripheral blood effects, pointing to the need to scrutinize levels of both compounds in the occupational environment.
authors.affiliation: ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc, 1545 Route 22 East, Annandale, NJ 08801, United States. a.r.schnatter@exxonmobil.com
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robert Schnatter
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kerzic
authors.forename: Yimei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Nicolich
authors.forename: Karlene
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lavelle
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Michael G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.forename: Lv
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Irons
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D014050:Toluene / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D014050:Toluene; D004247:DNA; D001554:Benzene