Occupational exposure to benzene in China.

Abstract

Of a total of 528 729 workers exposed to benzene or benzene mixtures in China, 508 818 (96-23%) were examined. Altogether 2 676 cases of benzene poisoning were found, a prevalence of 0-51 %. A higher prevalence of benzene poisoning was found in the cities of Hangjou, Hefei, Nanjing, Shenyang, and Xian. The geometric mean concentration of benzene in 50 255 workplaces was 18 1 mg/m3 but 64-6% of the workplaces had less than 40 mg/m3. There was a positive correlation between the prevalence of benzene poisoning and the concentration in shoemaking factories. The prevalence of benzene induced aplastic anaemia in shoemakers was about 5 8 times that occurring in the general population. The results of this investigation show the need for a practicable hygiene standard to prevent benzene poisoning.

The epidemiology of aplastic anemia in Thailand

“…Marrow failure has been detected readily among Italian shoe workers in the 1950s 39 and Chinese workers in a variety of industries in the 1960s. 40,41 While industrial use of benzene has long been linked to bone marrow failure, the historical nature of the record and the recognition of other hematologic sequelae of chronic exposure has cast doubts on the accuracy of the early descriptions. 42 Mild blood count abnormalities occur with benzene exposure 43 and may have been incorrectly equated with AA in some surveys.…”

The global burden of selected occupational diseases and injury risks: Methodology and summary

“…The results obtained were compared with CAREX data. With few exceptions, the estimated fraction of workers exposed to silica or benzene is equal to or higher in these countries than indicated by the CAREX [Yin et al, 1987;Juengprasert, 1997;Zou et al, 1997; NIEHS, 1999;Phan Hong et al, 1999;Nguyen and Hong, 2001]. For example, the proportion of workers exposed to silica in manufacturing in Viet Nam is 3.7%, as compared to the CAREX estimate of 2.3%.…”

The global burden of disease due to occupational carcinogens

“…However, there are few data on distribution of exposure values for developing countries. Using relevant data that could be obtained [Yin et al, 1987;Myers et al, 1989;Rees et al, 1992;Dosemeci et al, 1995;Partanen et al, 1995;NIOSH, 1999;NIOSH, 2000], partition factors were estimated for the A regions and for the B-E regions. For A regions, it was assumed that 0.90 of exposed workers had Low exposures (at/or below the PEL), and 0.10 had High exposures (above the PEL).…”