Hydroquinone, a benzene metabolite, and leukemia: a case report and review of the literature.

Abstract

Hydroquinone is a phenolic metabolite of benzene, a known human carcinogen. Hydroquinone is widely used in the industry. We report a case of a 43-year-old male diagnosed with antecedent myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia following 16 years of occupational exposure to hydroquinone in radiographic developer solution. Cytogenetic studies revealed aberrations in chromosome 5 and chromosome 7. We review the literature on hydroquinone as a potential cause of hematolymphatic cancers and discuss the role of hydroquinone as a genotoxic and leukemogenic agent.

• Authors: Lee Regev, Michael Wu, Ronald Zlotolow, Nachman Brautbar
• Journal: Toxicology and industrial health (Toxicol Ind Health) Vol. 28 Issue 1 Pg. 64-73 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1477-0393 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21511898 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Hydroquinones
• Mutagens
• Benzene
• hydroquinone

Topics

• Adult
• Animals
• Benzene (metabolism, poisoning, toxicity)
• Chromosome Aberrations (chemically induced)
• Chromosomes, Human, Pair 5
• Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7
• Humans
• Hydroquinones (metabolism, poisoning, toxicity)
• Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute (chemically induced, genetics)
• Male
• Mice
• Mutagens (metabolism, poisoning, toxicity)
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (chemically induced, genetics)
• Occupational Diseases (chemically induced, genetics)
• Occupational Exposure (adverse effects)
• Rats