Increase of sister chromatid exchanges and perturbations of cell division kinetics in human lymphocytes by benzene metabolites.

Benzene, which has been associated with human cancers, is metabolized to produce several major metabolites that could be responsible for the biological effects. Tests have now been carried out on human lymphocytes in culture to determine if benzene or its metabolites, phenol, catechol, and hydroquinone, induce cytogenetic changes and affect the cell cycle. The results indicate that benzene itself does not induce sister chromatid exchanges or affect cell cycle kinetics over a wide range of doses. Phenol has an effect only at very high doses. On the other hand, catechol is a potent compound that induces sister chromatid exchanges and delays cell division very readily. Hydroquinone is also potent, but less so than catechol. Thus, the formation of catechol and hydroquinone is the most likely cause of benzene toxicity.