Benzene

CASRN 71-43-2 | DTXSID3039242

Toxicological Review (PDF) (180 pp, 1.5 MB, about PDF)
IRIS Summary (PDF) (45 pp, 254.9 KB, about PDF)
Supporting Documents for Benzene (Cancer)

IRIS Toxicological Review of Benzene (Noncancer Effects)

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Overview

Benzene, also known as benzol, is widely used as an industrial solvent, as an intermediate in chemical syntheses, and as a component of gasoline; hence, the potential for human exposure is great. The emphasis of this document is a discussion of the noncancer adverse health effects of benzene including the no-observed-adverse-effect levels, the lowest-observed-adverse-effect levels, benchmark dose analysis, uncertainty factors, and any other considerations used to develop the reference dose (RfD) and reference concentration (RfC) for benzene.

The Toxicological Review concludes that chronic benzene exposure may pose several types of noncancer human health hazards. Hematotoxicity, e.g., progressive deterioration of hematopoietic function, has been consistently reported to be the most sensitive indicator of noncancer toxicity in both experimental animal studies and occupationally exposed humans. The hazards can result from inhalation, oral or dermal exposure, though the exposure circumstances vary. The Toxicological Review includes estimates of chronic exposure levels for oral exposure (RfD) and inhalation exposure (RfC) that are thought to be without appreciable risk.

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This download(s) is distributed solely for the purpose of pre-dissemination peer review under applicable information quality guidelines. It has not been formally disseminated by EPA. It does not represent and should not be construed to represent any Agency determination or policy.

Benzene - Fact Sheet (PDF) (2 pp, 113.3 KB, about PDF)
IRIS Summary of Benzene (Noncancer Effects) (PDF) (22 pp, 1.3 MB, about PDF)
Toxicological Review of Benzene (Noncancer Effects) (PDF) (182 pp, 1.7 MB, about PDF)

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