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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)
  • Key IRIS
    Values
  • Chemical
    Documents
  • Report
    Details
  • Other EPA
    Information

Carcinogenic Effects of Benzene: An Update (1997 External Review Draft)

On this page:

  • Overview
  • Downloads

Alert
Alert Notice - This site contains archived material(s)

Archive disclaimer
Archived files are provided for reference purposes only. The file was current when produced, but is no longer maintained and may now be outdated. Persons with disabilities having difficulty accessing archived files may contact the IRIS Webmaster for assistance. Please use the contact us form if you need additional support.

Overview

In 1992, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Mobile Sources (OMS) requested the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA) to provide an updated characterization of the cancer risk of benzene to humans. The previous characterization of the carcinogenic risk of exposure to benzene was done in 1985 by the Office of Health and Environmental Assessment (the predecessor organization to NCEA). Additional scientific data relevant to the carcinogenicity of benzene have been published in the literature since that time. This has brought into question the relevancy of the earlier quantitative cancer risk estimates. The 1985 cancer unit risk estimates were based on assumptions about the effects of low-level benzene exposure on humans derived from occupational health studies.

The regulatory authority (Clean Air Act Amendments, 1990) for controlling fuel emissions in vehicles resides in OMS. Before OMS exercises its regulatory authority, OMS has asked NCEA for scientific supporting documents based on health implications of continued exposure to benzene.

The scope of this report is limited to issues related to the carcinogenicity of benzene. Specifically, this report evaluates and discusses studies published since 1985 to ascertain if there has been sufficient new scientific information that would significantly alter the 1985 interim benzene unit cancer risk estimate.


Download(s)

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.

  • Carcinogenic Effects of Benzene: An Update (PDF)  (48  pp, 161.1 KB, about PDF)

If you have a disability and the format of any material on our web pages interferes with your ability to access the information, please reach out to us using the Contact Us about IRIS form for assistance. To enable us to respond in a manner most helpful to you, please indicate the nature of the accessibility problem, the web address of the requested material, your preferred format in which you want to receive the material (electronic format (ASCII, etc.), standard print, large print, etc.), and your contact information.

Document Related Link(s)

  • Carcinogenic Effects Of Benzene: An Update (Draft Report)
  • IRIS Toxicological Review of Benzene (Noncancer Effects) (1998 External Review Draft)

Related Links

  • EPA Chemicals Dashboard - Benzene
  • eChemPortal - Benzene

Critical Effect Systems

Immune
Immune

Tumor Sites

Hematologic
Hematologic

Chemical Structure for
Benzene

Benzene

Synonyms

  • Benzene
  • Benzol
  • Coal naphtha
  • Cyclohexatriene
  • Phene
  • Phenyl hydride
  • Polystream
  • Pyrobenzol
  • 71-43-2
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Last updated on October 22, 2015
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