An American study shows that living near factories that release benzene increases the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Living near industries that emit benzene, such as refineries or chemical industries, would increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that develops from cells of the lymphatic system, lymphocytes – white blood cells involved in reactions defense of the body. For the first time, American researchers demonstrated a link between passive exposure to benzene fumes and the risk of lymphatic cancer. They studied the new cases of lymphoma in the state of Georgia between 1999 and 2008, and crossed this information with the location of the industries where benzene is released. The researchers found that the highest rates of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were around the cities of Atlanta, Augusta and Savannah. And they have shown that the further away one lives from industrial areas, the fewer patients there are: for every mile more (1.6 km), the risk of developing blood cancer decreases by 0, 31%.
While researchers at the University of Atlanta remain cautious and call for further studies to corroborate their findings, “we hope they will provide insight into the potential risks of living near companies that slack off. these carcinogenic substances in the atmosphere, in soils or in water, ”explained Catherine Bulka, one of the authors of the study published in Cancer, the scientific journal of the American Cancer Society.
The problem is all the more important in the United States as there is no restrictive legislation on benzene in this country, unlike the European community. Since 2010, the European Union has set a ceiling concentration of 5 µg / m3 of air for the annual average of benzene. A measure deemed insufficient by certain French specialists who believe that the regulations are not restrictive enough. It should be remembered that with more than 11,600 new cases estimated in France in 2011, non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas rank 5th among the most frequent cancers according to the National Cancer Institute. They affect men a little more often (54%) and are observed at any age, including children and adolescents, but with an increased frequency after 60-65 years.
Exposure to benzene is also linked to road traffic. People who drive a lot or have jobs such as gas station workers, traffic cops or bus drivers are more at risk. Often being in underground garages and near their exhaust gas disposal areas can also have consequences.
Lastly, the absorption of benzene through the skin can introduce very high amounts into the body. When you wash your hands with gasoline, to remove oil for example, you absorb several thousand micrograms of benzene. Simply wiping off gasoline with a paper towel that is too thin, bottling it or transferring it to tanks, containers or jerry cans, can also put it in contact with the gasoline. skin. Such risks must be avoided.
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