September 2006
Reevaluation of Benzene Exposure For the Pliofilm Cohort
Our Challenge
- ChemRisk re-evaluated the exposures of the Pliofilm (rubberworker) cohort to benzene in order to evaluate the accuracy of prior exposure estimates.
Our Approach
- We evaluated historical records from the National Archives, as well as, information from worker interviews.
- Reviewed airborne benzene concentrations in 3 Pliofilm manufacturing facilities in Ohio during the period of 1939-1976
- Performed literature review and calculated cancer potency factor for benzene based on exposure estimates combined with mortality data
Our Findings
- Previous exposure estimates had both over- and under-estimations due to inaccurate assumptions, such as misclassification of job categories.
- The 3 Pliofilm facilities likely had significantly different airborne concentrations of benzene, especially during the 1940s and 1950s when accounted for the pattern of incidence of AML.
- Results were presented in a published paper [Paustenbach, D. J., et al. 1992. Reevaluation of Benzene Exposure for the Pliofilm (Rubberworker) Cohort (1936-1976). Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, 36: 177-231.] & [Williams, P. and Paustenbach, D. 2003. Reconstruction of Benzene Exposure for the Pliofilm Cohort (1936-1976) Using Monte Carlo Techniques. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 66: 667-781.]