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Health Risk Assessment in Children Occupationally and Para-Occupationally Exposed to Benzene Using a Reverse-Translation PBPK Model

Author

Listed:
  • Kristal Pech

    (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico)

  • Norma Pérez-Herrera

    (Laboratorio de Enfermedades Crónicas y Degenerativas, Unidad Interinstitucional de Investigación Clínica y Epidemiológica, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida 97000, Mexico)

  • Ángel Antonio Vértiz-Hernández

    (Coordinación Académica Regional Altiplano, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí 78300, Mexico)

  • Martín Lajous

    (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico
    Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA)

  • Paulina Farías

    (Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca 62100, Mexico)

Abstract

Benzene is a known human carcinogen and one of the ten chemicals of major public health concern identified by the World Health Organization. Our objective was to evaluate benzene’s carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks (current and projected) in highly exposed children in Yucatan, Mexico. Benzene exposure was estimated through a reverse-translation, four-compartment, physiologically based pharmacokinetic model (PBPK) based on previously performed urine trans, trans-muconic acid (benzene metabolite) determinations. Using a risk assessment methodology, the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of benzene were estimated for 6–12-year-old children from a family of shoemakers. The children’s hazard quotients for decreased lymphocyte count were 27 and 53 for 4 and 8 h/day exposure, respectively, and 37 for the projected 8 h/day exposure in adults. The risks of developing leukemia were 2–6 cases in 1000 children exposed 4 h/day; 4–10 cases in 1000 children exposed 8 h/day, and 2–9 cases in 1000 adults with an 8 h/day lifetime exposure. Children in Yucatan working in shoe-manufacturing workshops, or living next to them, are exposed to benzene concentrations above the reference concentration and have unacceptably high risks of presenting with non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic hematologic symptoms, now and in the future. Interventions to prevent further exposure and mitigate health risks are necessary.

Suggested Citation

  • Kristal Pech & Norma Pérez-Herrera & Ángel Antonio Vértiz-Hernández & Martín Lajous & Paulina Farías, 2023. "Health Risk Assessment in Children Occupationally and Para-Occupationally Exposed to Benzene Using a Reverse-Translation PBPK Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:3:p:2275-:d:1048321
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Benjamin Edokpolo & Qiming Jimmy Yu & Des Connell, 2014. "Health Risk Assessment of Ambient Air Concentrations of Benzene, Toluene and Xylene (BTX) in Service Station Environments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Sunisa Chaiklieng & Pornnapa Suggaravetsiri & Herman Autrup, 2019. "Risk Assessment on Benzene Exposure among Gasoline Station Workers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-9, July.
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