[Activity of lysosomal acid phosphatase in leukocytes of rats chronically intoxicated with benzene vapors].

In rats chronically exposed to benzene vapours of 1200 mg/m3 concentration, 6 hr daily, 6 days a week, during 12 weeks, acid phosphatase activity (AcP) was evaluated in neutrophils and lymphocytes of peripheral blood. One found an increase in AcP activity in neutrophils, correlating with duration of exposure, lymphocytopenia, correlating with duration of exposure, and increase in AcP--positive lymphocytes percentage, mainly with cytoplasmic and lysosomocytoplasmic localization of enzyme. Besides distant effects of chronic benzene intoxication were evaluated, 5 months after the exposure had been intermitted. Normal AcP activity in neutrophils, lymphocytopenia, and increase in AcP--positive lymphocytes percentage were found with cytoplasmic and lysosomo-cytoplasmic localization of enzyme. The authors suggest a possibility of using the changes observed in lymphocytes, on a subcellular level, to evaluate distant effects of occupational exposure to benzene.