Health exam findings among individuals occupationally exposed to benzene.

We previously conducted a cohort mortality study of 594 individuals occupationally exposed to measured concentrations of benzene. This report presents health examination findings for a subset of 282 men from the larger group. Although slight decreases in mean total bilirubin and RBC values were detected statistically in comparing the exposed group to controls, these changes were not regarded as clinically significant. No correlations were found between peripheral blood counts and latency, duration or intensity of benzene exposure. Presently we have no indication from our data of adverse effects of benzene having occurred in our subset. Variation in latency among individuals and the possibility of subtle changes effecting an eventual pattern contribute to the need for continued surveillance.