Ascertainment corrected prevalence rate (ACPR) of leukopenia in workers exposed to benzene in small-scale industries calculated with capture-recapture methods.

ACPRs of leukopenia in peripheral blood of workers exposed to benzene in small-scale industries are calculated using capture-recapture methods. The results from two figures with 6-month apart demonstrate that the ACPR in workers exposed to benzene is 36.81(29.14-44)%, significantly higher than that of control 12.71(7.20-18.22)% (P < 0.05), with a relative risk of 2.9. The prevalences of 4 cross-sectional investigations in exposure group calculated with routine method are 18.73%, 26.37%, 27.93%, and 36.76% respectively; in controls, 8.38%, 6.85%, 7.94%, and 15.00% respectively and all fall in the range of 95% CI of ACPR. It is suggested that the methods of calculating ACPR by capture-recapture methods is simple, feasible and efficient, with the results more precise than with traditional methods.