NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) Testimony on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration Proposed Rule: Occupational Exposure to Benzene, Part 2, to DOL (Department of Labor), by J. Donald Millar, March 1986

摘要

The testimony concerned data contained in a study dealing with mortality in the chemical industry as a result of exposure to benzene (71432) causing increased incidences of lymphatic and hematopoietic cancer. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) took the position that exposure to peak concentrations of benzene at less than 25 parts per million (ppm) was associated with a relative risk of 3.38 for these diseases. It was not specified whether these peak exposures occurred alone or as part of an otherwise constant exposure pattern. The relative risk was still well above 1.0. Two other cases classified in the continuous exposure group had spent most of their work time in intermittent exposure jobs and only a modest amount of time in continuously exposed jobs. The absence of a dose/rate effect was not a particularly surprising finding to NIOSH, and was not considered to discount the need for a limit on short term exposures. Cumulative dose was important and the ability of benzene to accumulate in the body must be carefully examined. Responses to additional specific questions concerning NIOSH's view of benzene research were provided.