Health status and its risk factors among workers with lowlevel benzene exposure

Objective To examine health status of the workers with lowlevel benzene exposure and to explore its risk factors.Methods The health habit,clinical symptoms,and the decreased rate of white blood cell(WBC)were detected and compared among 823 health examinees(including 253 with direct benzene exposure,482 with indirect benzene exposure workers,and 88 without benzene exposure)using χ² test.Risk factor analysis was conducted using logistic regression model.Results The workers with direct benzene exposure had a significantly higher rate of using personal protective equipment(78.3%)than those with indirect benzene exposuse(55.2%)(P < 0.05).Both workers with direct and inderect benzene exposure had a higher WBC fluctuation rate(32.2% and 40.7%)and a leukocytopenia rate(20.5% and 27.7%)than unexposed controls(6.8%,0%)(P <0.05).Benzene exposure,age,and the years with benzene exposuue were the risk factors of leukocytopenia.Conclusion Lowlevel benzene exposure could lead to hematotoxicity and leukocytopenia might be a susceptible predictor of hematotoxicity among the workers with benzene exposure.