Estimating cancer risk due to benzene exposure in some urban areas in Bangkok

Benzene exposure is of particular concern because recent research indicates that it can result in chronic toxicity, with an elevated risk of carcinogenesis. Exposure to benzene from automobile exhaust can be an important occupational problem for urban population. The present study was conducted to estimate cancer risk of population living in nine densely traffic jam area due to contact with traffic benzene vapor during daily work. The reported lifetime unit risk factor ranges from 8.30E-8 to 1.58E-6. Of interest, this number is high and can be important public health threaten. Monitoring of environmental benzene can help classify with high risk. Annual check up and monitoring for benzene exposure among the people living in urban area should be set as primary prevention of benzene-related cancer for them.