Characteristics in the Distribution of Chronic Benzene Poisoning Associated Industries - 6 PLADs, China, 2005-2019

Jin Zhou; Lei Han; Jianxin Zhao; Xiurong Cheng; Fenxia Hou; Qiang Jia; Juan Zhang; Peiyu Xu; Jing Liu; Zihuan Wang; Baoli Zhu; Caihong Xing

doi:10.46234/ccdcw2020.243

Characteristics in the Distribution of Chronic Benzene Poisoning Associated Industries - 6 PLADs, China, 2005-2019

China CDC Wkly. 2020 Nov 20;2(47):891-896. doi: 10.46234/ccdcw2020.243.

Authors

Jin Zhou¹, Lei Han², Jianxin Zhao¹, Xiurong Cheng¹, Fenxia Hou¹, Qiang Jia³, Juan Zhang⁴, Peiyu Xu⁵, Jing Liu⁶, Zihuan Wang⁷, Baoli Zhu², Caihong Xing¹

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health, National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
² Jiangsu Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
³ Shandong Academy of Occupational Health and Occupational Medicine, Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
⁵ Department of Nutrition, Food Safety and Toxicology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
⁶ Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin, China.
⁷ Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Beijing Research Center for Preventive Medicine, Beijing, China.

Abstract

What is already known on this topic?

Starting in the early 1950s, the main industries in China associated with chronic benzene poisoning (CBP) included painting, pharmaceuticals, and shoemaking. However, because of rapid socioeconomic development, the distribution of industries associated with CBP likely changed.

What is added by this report?

From 2005 to 2019, CBP has become an increasingly important type of chronic occupational poisoning (COP) in China. CBP was mainly found to have occurred in manufacturing industries, especially private enterprises and small and medium-sized enterprises. The sub-industry with the highest proportion of CBP cases was general and special equipment manufacturing, followed by chemical raw materials and chemical manufacturing.

What are the implications for public health practice?

CBP was found to be the main component of COP in China, so the supervision and management in manufacturing, especially in the medium-sized and small enterprises, need to be strengthened. Occupational benzene exposure limits should also be adjusted accordingly.

Copyright and License information: Editorial Office of CCDCW, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention 2020.

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the Project of Occupational Health Risk Assessment and National Occupational Health Standard Formulation of National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control (Project No.: 131031109000150003).