Benzene Among Five Tox Profiles Released for Public Comment
A new draft toxicological profile for benzene is available from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Tox profiles are peer-reviewed evaluations of toxicological information on hazardous substances. Each tox profile includes discussions about the health effects of a substance, its relevance to public health, its potential for human exposure, regulations and guidelines related to the substance, and other information.
The tox profile for benzene was last updated in 2007. Long-term exposure to benzene, which is used as a solvent and is found in products made from coal and petroleum, may affect bone marrow and blood production. According to OSHA, benzene has also been linked to leukemia in individuals exposed to the substance; exposures of affected people ranged from less than five years to more than 30 years. The agency warns that short-term exposure to benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, and death. Workers involved in manufacturing products like plastics, detergents, pesticides, and other chemicals may be exposed to benzene. ATSDR states that firefighters, gasoline station workers, and dry cleaners may be exposed to the substance at higher levels. Access the tox profile for benzene from the ATSDR website.
New draft toxicological profiles are also available for the substances carbon disulfide, chlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (CDDs), cyanide, and thallium. According to ATSDR, carbon disulfide is mostly used to manufacture the synthetic cloth fiber rayon, and exposure to the chemical can affect the nervous system. CDDs, which comprise 75 dioxins, may be formed during certain processes in industry—for example, at pulp and paper mills during chlorine bleaching. Research has shown increased cancer risks in some workers exposed to CDDs. The agency describes cyanide as “a well-known poison that can cause death if exposed to very high levels in the air, food, or drink, or directly on the skin.” And thallium, a naturally occurring metal, is used in superconductors, low-melting glass, photoelectric cells, and radiation detection equipment. Exposure to thallium may cause adverse health effects such as heart problems, hair loss, or numbness and pain in the hands and feet, and it’s a concern in workplaces that use the substance.
Comments on the draft profiles are due by Feb. 6, 2025. More information on submitting comments is available in the Federal Register.