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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01-08-2011 | Original Article

Occupational exposure levels to benzene in Italy: findings from a national database

Authors: Alberto Scarselli, Alessandra Binazzi, Davide Di Marzio

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 6/2011

Abstract

Purpose

Benzene is classified as human carcinogen and the association with lymphohaematopoietic cancer has been observed in many occupational epidemiological studies. The aim of this study is to summarize data about occupational exposure levels to benzene in Italy.

Methods

Airborne concentrations of benzene were selected from the Italian database on occupational exposure to carcinogens in the period 1996–2007. Descriptive statistics were calculated for exposure-related variables. The number of workers potentially exposed was estimated for the industrial sectors better characterized in the database. An analysis through linear mixed model was performed to determine factors affecting the exposure level.

Results

The total number of benzene exposure measurements was 15,776, with an overall arithmetic mean of 0.09 ppm and a geometric mean of 0.02 ppm. Economic sectors with a higher number of measurements (N) were the manufacturing of chemicals (N = 10,480) and the petrochemical industry (N = 2,652). The number of workers potentially exposed in the selected sectors was 37,137, and the most predictive independent variables of the exposure level were measurement year and job category.

Conclusions

Occupational benzene exposure is still widespread in many different industries, and proactive measures are needed to reduce its impact on the workers’ health. The potential of occupational exposure databases as a source of data for exposure assessment is confirmed.

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Title: Occupational exposure levels to benzene in Italy: findings from a national database
Authors: Alberto Scarselli
Alessandra Binazzi
Davide Di Marzio
Publication date: 01-08-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 6/2011
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-011-0616-9

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Springer Medicine

Occupational exposure levels to benzene in Italy: findings from a national database

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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