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Does benzene cause cancer?
Do you need a benzene lawyer for a class action lawsuit?
There is increased incidence of leukemia when people are occupationally exposed to benzene. Long-term exposure to benzene can cause cancer of the blood-forming organs.Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. EPA has classified benzene as a known human carcinogen.
This condition is called leukemia. The evidence linking benzene and cancer predominantly comes from studies of workers, and relates to leukemia, particularly with two types called acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and to a lesser degree, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
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A considerable number of human studies provide evidence linking benzene and cancer. Initially, increased risks of leukemia, chiefly AML, were reported among workers with high levels of benzene exposure in the chemical, shoemaking, and oil refining industries.
More recently, studies have focused on workers with relatively lower exposure:
One studied approximately 750 Pliofilm rubber workers at three facilities in Ohio, whose causes of death were followed over three decades. This study had several strengths: relatively little exposure to dangerous chemicals other than benzene, a wide range of benzene exposures, and very complete follow-up. It showed an increase in leukemia and multiple myeloma (a cancer of immune system cells in the bone marrow) among exposed workers.
Another important study was conducted by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Preventive Medicine. Investigators followed almost 30,000 workers exposed to benzene in 233 factories in China, and a similar group of unexposed control workers. The large sample size permitted elevated risks to be detected at low levels of exposure. This study suggested an increased risk of leukemia in workers exposed to less than 10 ppm.
These and other epidemiologic studies of benzene show a fairly consistent excess risk to exposed workers of leukemia, and suggestions of excesses in other blood and bone marrow cancers as well.
Have you or a loved one suffered convulsions from benzene? Lowered blood count from benzene? Have you been diagnosed with cancer? Has there been a benzene death?
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