title: Evaluation of Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia and Its Subtypes With Updated Benzene Exposure and Mortality Estimates: A Lifetable Analysis of the Pliofilm Cohort.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) based its benzene carcinogenicity assessment on the Pliofilm cohort. We evaluated associations between benzene exposure and acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL) and acute myelocytic leukemia (AML) risks using this cohort's updated exposure estimates and mortality data.
  
  
  METHODS
  We calculated standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) for ANLL/AML using lifetable analyses, with various exposure quantile categories and lag times.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Workers in the highest exposure categories had significantly elevated risks of ANLL and AML; no leukemia cases occurred in lower exposure categories. Exposure within 10 years of cancer onset appears most relevant for leukemia induction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirmed the association between high-level benzene exposures and leukemia risks, and provided further evidence of a threshold effect and relevant exposure window. Our findings call for an updated risk assessment for benzene carcinogenicity using updated exposure estimates and mortality data.
authors.affiliation: Gradient, Cambridge (Drs Rhomberg, Goodman, Tao, Zu); Affectiva, Waltham, Massachusetts (Chandalia); E Risk Sciences, LLP, Boulder, Colorado (Dr Williams); and Independent Consultant, Chapel Hill, North Carolina (Mr Allen).
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rhomberg
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Ge
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zu
authors.forename: Juhi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chandalia
authors.forename: Pamela R D
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Allen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D012408:Rubber; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012408:Rubber; D001554:Benzene