Benzene exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies.
OBJECTIVE
To conduct a meta-analysis of studies of benzene exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).


METHODS
A total of 8 cohort and 14 case-control studies were analyzed.


RESULTS
Meta-analysis of any benzene exposure resulted in a summary relative risk estimate (SRRE) of 1.02 (95% CI: 0.94 to 1.12). The SRRE changed minimally when only data representing the highest level of benzene exposure were analyzed after an a priori data extraction protocol, using cumulative exposure as the optimum metric (SRRE = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.93 to 1.24). Meta-analysis of five studies that reported results for 60 or more ppm-years of cumulative exposure yielded an SRRE of 1.08 (95% CI: 0.36 to 3.24). Similarly, an SRRE of 1.04 (95% CI: 0.96 to 1.12) for each 25 ppm-year increment of benzene exposure was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The results from this meta-analysis are not supportive of an independent association between benzene exposure and NHL.
Alexander
Dominik D
DD
Center for Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Computational Biology, Exponent Inc., Health Sciences, Wood Dale, IL 60191, USA. dalexander@exponent.com
Wagner
Meghan E
ME
D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D012306:Risk
D001554:Benzene