This article investigated an occupational chronic benzene poisoning incident that occurred in a sealing material factory in Hebei Province in September 2019, analyzed the clinical data of workers, to explore the causes of occupational chronic benzene poisoning, and summarize the diagnosis and treatment characteristics and treatment outcome. According to GBZ 68-2013 "Diagnosis of Occupational Benzene Poisoning", a total of 12 cases of occupational chronic benzene poisoning were diagnosed among the 20 workers, including 2 cases of occupational chronic mild benzene poisoning, 7 cases of moderate benzene poisoning, and 3 cases of severe benzene poisoning. Both mild and moderate poisoning patients had recovered after treatment. Severely poisoned patients had recovered more slowly, and the white blood cell count was still 2.0×10(9)-3.0×10(9)/L during the 1-year follow-up. This benzene poisoning incident was caused by illegal operations. The responsibility of the employer, the supervision of the administrative agency, and the awareness of personal protection of employees should be strengthened to avoid or reduce the occurrence of poisoning incidents and ensure the health of workers.
Accidents, Occupational ; Benzene/analysis* ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Poisoning

Objective: To investigate the detection of suspected occupational diseases and occupational contraindications for benzene workers in Tianjin. Methods: In June 2020, the occupational health inspection data of 16113 benzene workers in 514 enterprises with benzene hazards in 16 municipal districts in Tianjin from January to December 2019 were included in the analysis. Enterprise information included the employer's region, economic type, industry classification and enterprise scale. Occupational health inspection data for benzene workers during their on-the-job period included routine inspection indicators and benzene special inspection indicators. Multivariate unconditional logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between personal general information, occupational history, enterprise information and suspected benzene poisoning and occupational contraindications of benzene workers. Results: There were 16073 benzene workers in the normal group and 24 in the suspected benzene poisoning group. The detection rate of suspected benzene poisoning in females was higher than that in males (χ(2)=8.26, P=0.004) . There was no significant difference in the detection rates of suspected benzene poisoning among different dimensions such as age, length of service, occupational health inspection institution location, employer location, industry classification, economic type, and enterprise scale (P>0.05) . There were 16073 benzene workers in the normal group and 16 in the benzene contraindication group. The detection rate of benzene contraindications for workers in suburban areas where occupational health inspection institutions were located was higher than that in urban areas (χ(2)=9.71, P=0.002) , and there was no significant difference in the detection rates of contraindications for benzene in other dimensions (P>0.05) . Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female benzene workers were more likely to detect suspected benzene poisoning (OR=3.53, 95%CI: 1.57-7.94, P=0.002) ; benzene workers who received physical examination in suburban occupational health inspection institutions (OR=5.81, 95%CI: 1.94-17.42, P=0.002) , the employer's area was in the suburbs (OR=9.68, 95%CI: 1.23-76.07, P=0.031) , and female workers (OR=3.07, 95%CI: 1.13-8.37, P=0.028) , it was easier to detect occupational contraindications. Conclusion: Female benzene workers with employers located in the suburbs have a higher risk of detecting occupational contraindications, and women are more likely to detect suspected benzene poisoning. The management of benzene operations in the production environment of enterprises in the suburbs of Tianjin and the occupational health monitoring of female workers should be strengthened.
Benzene/analysis* ; Female ; Humans ; Industry ; Male ; Occupational Diseases/epidemiology* ; Occupational Exposure/analysis* ; Occupational Health

Objective: This study was designed to conduct a retrospective and systematic occupational health risk assessment (OHRA) of enterprises that used benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) in Shanghai, China. Methods: All data for the study were obtained from 1,705 occupational health examination and evaluation reports from 2013 to 2017, and a semiquantitative model following Chinese OHRA guidelines (GBZ/T 298-2017) was applied for the assessment. Results: The selected enterprises using BTX were mainly involved in manufacturing of products. Using the exposure level method, health risk levels associated with exposure to BTX were classified as medium, negligible, or low. However, the risk levels associated with benzene and toluene were significantly different according to job types, with gluers and inkers exhibiting greater health risks. For the same job type, the health risk levels assessed using the comprehensive index method were higher than those using the exposure level method. Conclusion Our OHRA reveals that workers who are exposed to BTX still face excessive health risk. Additionally, the risk level varied depending on job categories and exposure to specific chemicals. Therefore, additional control measures recommended by OHRA guidelines are essential to reduce worker exposure levels.
Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis* ; Benzene/analysis* ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Assessment ; Toluene/analysis* ; Xylenes/analysis*

BACKGROUND: Evidence on associations between occupational diesel exhaust and gasoline exposure and colorectal cancer is limited. We aimed to assess the effect of workplace exposure to diesel exhaust and gasoline on the risk of colorectal cancer. METHODS: This caseecontrol study included 181,709 colon cancer and 109,227 rectal cancer cases diagnosed between 1961 and 2005 in Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Cases and controls were identified from the Nordic Occupational Cancer Study cohort and matched for country, birth year, and sex. Diesel exhaust and gasoline exposure values were assigned by country-specific job-exposure matrices. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated by using conditional logistic regression models. The results were adjusted for physical strain at work and occupational exposure to benzene, formaldehyde, ionizing radiation, chlorinated hydrocarbons, chromium, and wood dust. RESULTS: Diesel exhaust exposure was associated with a small increase in the risk of rectal cancer (odds ratio 1/4 1.05, 95% confidence interval 1.02–1.08). Gasoline exposure was not associated with colorectal cancer risk. CONCLUSION: This study showed a small risk increase for rectal cancer after workplace diesel exhaust exposure. However, this finding could be due to chance, given the limitations of the study.
Benzene ; Case-Control Studies ; Chromium ; Cohort Studies ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Dust ; Finland ; Formaldehyde ; Gasoline ; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated ; Iceland ; Logistic Models ; Norway ; Occupational Exposure ; Odds Ratio ; Parturition ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Scandinavian and Nordic Countries ; Sweden ; Vehicle Emissions ; Wood

Comprehensive consideration is necessary for setting guidelines to evaluate evidence of occupational cancer in painters due to work-related exposure to carcinogens in paint (a phenomenon termed herein as “work-relatedness”). The aim of the present research is to perform a comprehensive review and to suggest criteria for the provision of compensation for occupational neoplasm among painters in Korea. In order to perform a comprehensive review, this study assessed and evaluated scientific reports of carcinogenicities from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC), as well as reviewed the existing literature about occupational exposure among painters in Korea and the epidemiologic investigations of claimed cases of cancer among painters in Korea. The IARC declares that occupational exposures in commercial painting are classified as Group 1 carcinogens for lung cancer and bladder cancer among painters. The epidemiologic studies show consistent causal relationships between occupational exposure in painters and cancers such as lung cancer [meta relative risk: 1.34 (95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.23-1.41)] and bladder cancer [meta relative risk: 1.24 (95% CIs: 1.16-1.33)]. In reviewing occupational cancer risks for commercial painters, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) confirms occupational cancer risks for lung and bladder cancer among commercial painters. According to the IIAC, however, the elevated cancer risks reported in existing literature are not doubled in either lung or bladder cancer in commercial painters relative to the risks of these cancers in the general population. Based on our review of existing Korean articles on the topic, painters are exposed to potential carcinogens including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), benzene, hexavalent chrome, crystalized silica, asbestos, and other agents, and relative levels are estimated within commercial painting processes. However, the cancer risks of occupational exposure to Group 1 carcinogens for lung and bladder cancer in painters per se are not fully assessed in existing Korean articles. Total work duration, potential carcinogens in paint, mixed exposure to paints across various industries such as construction and shipbuilding, exposure periods, latent periods, and other factors should be considered on an individual basis in investigating the work-relatedness of certain types of cancer in commercial painters.
Asbestos ; Benzene ; Carcinogens ; Compensation and Redress ; Epidemiologic Studies ; International Agencies ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupations ; Paint ; Paintings ; Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Silicon Dioxide ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Ionizing radiation is a well-known carcinogen, and is listed as one carcinogenic agent of occupational cancer. Given the increase in the number of workers exposed to radiation, as well as the increase in concern regarding occupational cancer, the number of radiation-related occupational cancer claims is expected to increase. Unlike exposure assessment of other carcinogenic agents in the workplace, such as asbestos and benzene, radiation exposure is usually assessed on an individual basis with personal dosimeters, which makes it feasible to assess whether a worker's cancer occurrence is associated with their individual exposure. However, given the absence of a threshold dose for cancer initiation, it remains difficult to identify radiation exposure as the root cause of occupational cancer. Moreover, the association between cancer and radiation exposure in the workplace has not been clearly established due to a lack of scientific evidence. Therefore, criteria for the recognition of radiation-related occupational cancer should be carefully reviewed and updated with new scientific evidence and social consensus. The current criteria in Korea are valid in terms of eligible radiogenic cancer sites, adequate latent period, assessment of radiation exposure, and probability of causation. However, reducing uncertainty with respect to the determination of causation between exposure and cancer and developing more specific criteria that considers mixed exposure to radiation and other carcinogenic agents remains an important open question.
Asbestos ; Benzene ; Consensus ; Humans ; Korea ; Radiation Exposure ; Radiation, Ionizing ; Uncertainty

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Benzene ; adverse effects ; Blood Cell Count ; Commerce ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Hemoglobins ; analysis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Ownership

Background: Benzene is primarily routed by inhalation which highly sensitive to blood parameters as bone marrow is their target organ. The ability of benzene even in low exposure levels may induce human bone marrow suppression resulting in blood diseases such as leukopenia, anemia, thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, and pancytopenia. In the occupational setting, the most common benzene-exposed workers are from the petrochemical industries and petrol distribution such as gasoline pumps. Benzene also generated primarily by mobile exhaust and some from various of anthropogenic sources at environmental atmosphere and occupationally exposed in the policemen traffic, taxi and bus drivers, and street vendors in long-length time with low concentration exposure. Methodology: This paper reviewed published articles on biomarkers exposure, effects and susceptibility as the useful tools for benzene exposure assessment in the occupational and environmental setting. Data from previous epidemiological studies relevant to benzene exposure in various occupational and environmental setting is also summarized. Results: Based on these analyses, the findings agreed that these biomarkers are could suggest in linking the benzene exposure with possible adverse health effects. The biological monitoring used in epidemiological studies is useful in providing an understanding of activation and detoxification of benzene in both the occupational and general population as they are exposed to wide range of benzene concentration. Conclusion. The biomarkers of exposure, effects, and susceptibility utilized for benzene exposure assessment are valid tools in determining the greatest potential risk as well as an early biological effect which then caused a related specific disease.
benzene exposure ; biomarkers ; genetic polymorphisms and environmental and occupational population

Benzene is classified as Group 1 carcinogen by IARC. It has been found that benzene induces hematotoxicity even in low dose exposure. The identification of key events during benzene induced hematotoxicty leads to adjustment of occupational exposure limits of benzene. In this review, we focus on the exposure, metabolism, target organs, key epigenetic changes, toxicty effects and end points of low-dose chronic benzene exposure induced hematotoxicity and finally discuss the perspectives on the future study of this area.
Benzene ; toxicity ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure

OBJECTIVETo investigate the occupational health condition in a shipyard in Guangzhou, China, and to provide a basis for improving the working environment.

METHODSThe monitoring data on occupational harmful factors in the workplace and the data on health examination of the workers were analyzed, and the occupational health condition in the shipyard was evaluated with the related occupational health standards.

RESULTSExcept benzene, toluene, and electromagnetic radiation, the dust (2.02%), grinding wheel dust (3.85%), wood dust (2 out of 4 workers exceeded the standard), welding fume (16.85%), manganese dioxide (17.98%), dimethylbenzene (8.00%), and noise (53.20%) were all out of limits to different degrees. The health examination results of 2450 workers in the shipyard showed that the respiratory impairment of dust-exposed workers (3.19%) and the hearing impairment of noise-exposed workers (12.21%) were comparatively severe.

CONCLUSIONThe occupational health condition in this shipyard is not good. In order to protect the workers from health hazards, it is urgent and necessary to improve the working environment and strengthen the personal protective measures.

Air Pollutants ; Benzene ; China ; Construction Industry ; Dust ; Humans ; Noise ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Ships ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Welding ; Workplace