NSRL for Benzene

The inhalation cancer potency of benzene was estimated from observations of leukemia among U.S. rubber hydrochloride workers exposed to benzene (Pliofilm Cohort) (Rinsky et al., 1987; Paxton et al., 1994) and benzene-exposed workers from various industries in China (Chinese Worker Cohort) (Hayes et al., 1997). In estimating potency, observations were assumed to follow a Poisson distribution. Relative risk was assumed to increase linearly with cumulative exposure, and leukemia onset was assumed unaffected by benzene exposure after 30 years. Cancer potency estimates, obtained from the occupational data, were adjusted using lifetable analyses to those expected for the California population from constant exposure to benzene.