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2962229 
Journal Article 
A Critical Look At Hazards From Benzene In Workplace And Community Air 
Van Raalte, HGS 
1982 
1 
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology
ISSN: 0273-2300
EISSN: 1096-0295 
NIOSH/00153313 
2 
1 
67-76 
English 
6193568 
Cancer hazards from benzene (71432) exposure at low concentrations are reviewed. Studies of benzene in the workplace show an absence of blood dyscrasias, including leukemia, in employees who were exposed to concentrations under 100 parts per million (ppm). Exposure of the general public occurs at concentrations at least 2 to 3 orders of magnitude lower than those recorded in industrial situations. Concentrations of 0.5 to 16.3 parts per billion (ppb) in community air have been reported in Europe. In the United States, 0.49 to 120ppm were measured in 18 cities and towns, and 0.49 to 2ppm were measured in rural areas. An average of 15ppb with peaks up to 57ppb were measured in the Los Angeles area. Since the greatest single contributor to the presence of benzene in community air is gasoline, a comparison was made between the consumption of gasoline and its benzene content with leukemia incidence and mortality in Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands. Data on gasoline consumption and disease was collected from national bureaus of statistics. Total leukemia in males was considered in the Netherlands and compared with gasoline consumption 12 years earlier, from 1955 to 1964. Acute non lymphocytic leukemia was considered in Denmark and Norway in comparison with gasoline consumption 15 years earlier, from 1953 to 1961. Gasoline consumption increased in all countries, and the benzene content of gasoline in all three countries also increased, from an average of 1.5 percent in the 1950s to 3 to 3.5 percent in the 1960s and 1970s. There was no correlation between these gasoline trends and leukemia. The author concludes that at low concentrations there is no apparent leukemia risk from benzene. When far reaching regulations are discussed, it is recommended that practical data such as these be considered along with theoretical data. 
Air Pollutants; Air Pollutants, Occupational; Gasoline; Vehicle Emissions; Benzene; J64922108F; Index Medicus; Netherlands; Denmark; Leukemia -- epidemiology; Vehicle Emissions -- analysis; Air Pollutants, Occupational -- adverse effects; Air Pollutants -- adverse effects; Benzene -- adverse effects