Characterizing Benzene Exposure in Petroleum and Gasoline Workers

Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center 

Benzene is a known human carcinogen that has been associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in workers after prolonged, high exposure. We retrieved all available benzene sampling data collected in the petroleum and gasoline industries from 1984 through 2025 in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Chemical Exposure Health Data (CEHD) database. Concentrations were stratified by sample type (i.e. personal air, area air, and bulk material) and analyzed for temporal trends and industry-level trends according to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 6-digit industry code. Personal air concentrations were contextualized using the contemporaneous OSHA permissible exposure limit (PEL).

We identified 109 area, 71 bulk, and 937 personal samples that represented 13 distinct NAICS 6-digit industry titles from 1984 to 2024. After adjusting for industry, personal benzene concentrations decreased by 0.11 ppm per year (p<0.05) on average since 1984. Personal 8-hour TWA-adjusted benzene levels measured post-1987 were predominantly non-quantifiable (i.e. < LOQ) and therefore well below the contemporaneous OSHA PEL of 1 ppm. Just 1.8% (n=16) of all 8-hour TWA-adjusted personal samples collected in 1987 and later exceeded the 1987 OSHA PEL. Our results provide important context on historical benzene exposures during petroleum and gasoline operations, offering a conservative, upper-bound estimate of occupational exposure for workers in these industries.

C. Krevanko, Benchmark Risk Group, Seattle, WA, USA
B. Roberts, Benchmark Risk Group, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
G. DeMott, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
J. Pierce, Benchmark Risk Group, Chicago, IL, USA  

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Environmental protection and monitoring

Exposure Assessment

Risk assessment and management

Toxicology