How cancer commences is still the subject of extensive research with some particulars thereof remaining unknown. However, research has continually arrived as some internal and external factors that encourage the advent of cancer in different individuals (Li et al., 2017). In most cases, the advent of cancer results from the conjunction of several factors depending on the nature of the cancer itself. Chemicals that encourage the advent of cancer are scientifically referred to as carcinogens. Unfortunately, many of these carcinogens are necessary for several economically viable and important functions and therefore cannot be done away with. Benzene, a chemical whose molecule comprises of 6 carbons and 6 hydrogen is an important example (Li et al, 2017). Whereas its cancer causing characteristic was discovered over half a century ago, benzene and its products are still produced in large numbers due to their importance to contemporary mankind. It is, therefore, upon researchers to intensively investigate the relationship between benzene and cancer in general, particularly leukemia so as to enable safer processing as it cannot be done away with in the interim.
The five articles informing the instant literature review are all peer reviewed and published by different journals of repute. The method used to search for them was premised on the different characteristics of the relationship between benzene and leukemia. As a cancer, leukemia is closely associated with children hence the need to search under this category which led to the article by Houot et al., (2015) about children. However, most uses of benzene is industrial not domestic thus a higher propensity for contact with grownups and research to this end let to the article by Infante (2013). Further, a concentration of benzene exposure that would result to high susceptibility for leukemia among grownups has been investigated and reported by Rhomberg et al. (2016). The research so far showed that only a small cross section of those exposed to benzene develop leukemia, seeking to understand the reason for this led to the article by Li et al.(2017) that relates to genetic susceptibility to leukemia from benzene exposure. Investigating other possible chemicals that would encourage benzene based leukemia led to the article by Poynter et al., (2016).
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Products containing benzene are extremely abundant in the world which begs the question of why the leukemia it causes is not endemic. This question has been intensely investigated with mixed outcomes hence inconclusive results. Recent research has however connected susceptibility to leukemia upon exposure to benzene to genetics attributes, particularly the gene coding for Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and the enzyme Myeloperoxidase (MPO) (Li et al., 2017). This makes genetics a possible answer to the reason why despite uniform exposure to benzene, some people will contract leukemia while others do not. With regard to benzene caused leukemia among children, research has shown a possible correlation between proximity of a child’s home to roads that have heavy traffic and leukemia among children. This relates to high Nitrogen Dioxide levels due to high combustion of fossil fuels ( Houot et al., 2015 ). Whereas the children may suffer from opportunistic levels of benzene, some professions expose workers to excessively high levels of benzene when used as part of a solvent or even in the processing of crude oil based products (Infante, 2013) .
It is among such groups that the highest propensity for the development of leukemia as a direct result of benzene exposure is observed. Regulators are, therefore, pushing for better protection of employees as well as compensation and treatment in the case leukemia develops. According to the American Petroleum Institute (API), even the mildest exposure to benzene is dangerous but it is mostly high benzene exposure that results in leukemia among grownups (Rhomberg et al., 2016). This is the reason why leukemia is more common among grownups than children despite uniform exposure. A study seeking to establish if secondary chemicals encourage the advent of leukemia, more so acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) after exposure to benzene however found any effects of secondary chemicals to be negligible leaving benzene as the key and singular external cause (Poynter et al., 2016).
Conclusion
Benzene in any concentration is absolutely dangerous as it causes leukemia for children, a terrible disease with an exponentially high mortality rate. Simply living within the proximity of a busy highway poses leukemia risks to children ( Houot eta la, 2015 ). Unfortunately, benzene based compounds are so vital to contemporary mankind in different industries and areas of life that benzene has to be used in spite of the risks. Higher risks however, face employees who work in factories that manufacture and process benzene-rich compounds such as tire manufacturers and benzene based solvents. The individuals in these organizations who work under such conditions face great risks of developing leukemia in spite of any protective clothing and systems that organizations would put in place. However, protective clothing and specialized gear is important to extenuate the risk albeit it does not eliminate it. Combination of benzene and other chemicals has not been found to increase the risk for leukemia. This is a relief since the major point of focus in avoiding the carcinogen properties of benzene is the chemical itself (Poynter et al., 2016). It is however, worthy of notice that some genetic characteristics make some people more susceptible to leukemia upon exposure to benzene. This can be a source of a major breakthrough in the fight against leukemia. If further research is undertaken towards this end, it would be possible to establish which individuals are more prone to benzene caused leukemia than others (Li et al, 2017). This would enable these particular individuals to avoid working with benzene compounds and even save children from benzene exposure based leukemia.
References
Houot, J., Marquant, F., Goujon, S., Faure, L., Honoré, C., Roth, M.-H., … Clavel, J. (2015). Residential proximity to heavy-traffic roads, benzene exposure, and childhood Leukemia—The GEOCAP study, 2002–2007. American Journal of Epidemiology , 182 (8), 685–693. doi:10.1093/aje/kwv111
Infante, P. F. (2013). Benzene and leukemia, Pliofilm revisited: I. An historical review of the leukemia deaths among Akron Goodyear tire and rubber company employees. International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health , 19 (3), 215–222. doi:10.1179/2049396713y.0000000029
Li, C., Liu, Y., Hu, Z., & Zhou, Y. (2017). Genetic polymorphisms ofRAD51andXRCC3and acute myeloid leukemia risk: A meta-analysis. Leukemia & Lymphoma , 55 (6), 1309–1319. doi:10.3109/10428194.2013.835404
Poynter, J. N., Richardson, M., Roesler, M., Blair, C. K., Hirsch, B., Nguyen, P., … Warlick, E. (2016). Chemical exposures and risk of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes in a population-based study. International Journal of Cancer , 140 (1), 23–33. doi:10.1002/ijc.30420
Rhomberg, L., Goodman, J., Tao, G., Zu, K., Chandalia, J., Williams, P. R. D., & Allen, B. (2016). Evaluation of acute Nonlymphocytic leukemia and its subtypes with updated benzene exposure and mortality estimates. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine , 58 (4), 414–420. doi:10.1097/jom.0000000000000689
