title: [Biomarkers of effect and susceptibility to low doses of benzene].
abstract: Current occupational exposure levels to benzene are reduced by three orders of magnitudo (from ppm to ppb) as compared to the past. As benzene toxicity is related to its biotransformation and bioactivation pathways seem to be more active at lower exposure levels, observed effects could be higher than expected. Although the genetic polymorphisms of relevant and functional metabolic enzymes are implied in the modulation of either the risk of adverse effects [myeloperoxidase and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase] or of the biomarkers of internal dose (glutathione S-transferases M1-1, T1-1, A1-1), they are not appliable as biomarkers of susceptibility. Among biomarkers of early effect, only the longitudinal monitoring of blood cell count seems suitable to be applied in health surveillance protocols, whereas the use of biomarkers of genotoxic effect at current exposure levels is at the present not supported by literature data.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche, Scienze Radiologiche e Sanità Pubblica, Sezione Sanità Pubblica e Scienze Umane, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Palma
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mutti
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spatari
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andreoli
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mozzoni
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrieri
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manno
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Apostoli
mesh_terms: D001554:Benzene / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001554:Benzene