ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the absorption, distribution, and metabolism of benzene as they relate to the observed toxic responses of aplastic anemia and leukemia. Benzene is ubiquitous in the environment and low level exposure occurs through water, natural food stuffs, and from atmospheric exposure. Benzene toxicity is most frequently caused by inhalation of benzene in ambient air. Most benzene is removed from the body in the expired air after exposure ceases. The liver has been extensively examined because of the high level of mixed function oxidase (MFO) activity and because of a set of experiments which demonstrated that partial hepatectomy completely protected against benzene hematotoxicity and decreased whole body benzene metabolism by 70%. Benzene exposure in both man and experimental animals results in a generalized bone marrow depression which manifests itself as reduced numbers of circulating erythrocytes, granulocytes, thrombocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes.
