Lymphoid neoplasms and benzene exposure using a revised classification scheme: systematic review and meta-analysis
Hyun-Wook Park1, Youjin Kim2, Seung-Yeon Lee3
1Department of Preventive Medicine, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, Korea (the Republic of).
Occupational and Environmental Medicine
|May 4, 2026
Summary
Benzene exposure significantly increases the risk of lymphoid neoplasms, especially B-cell types, according to a meta-analysis using the WHO-HAEM5 classification. This highlights the need for occupational safety and environmental health policies.
Area of Science:
- Hematology
- Toxicology
- Cancer Epidemiology
Background:
- Lymphoid neoplasms are diverse cancers of lymphocytes, with classification recently updated by the WHO Classification of Haematolymphoid Tumours (WHO-HAEM5).
- Benzene is a known carcinogen with widespread industrial and environmental exposure, but its link to specific lymphoid neoplasm subtypes is unclear due to classification challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To clarify the association between benzene exposure and the risk of lymphoid neoplasms, utilizing the updated WHO-HAEM5 classification.
- To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to quantify the risk of various lymphoid neoplasm subtypes linked to benzene exposure.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review and meta-analysis of 95 comparative human studies (65 occupational, 30 environmental exposure).
- Data extraction and risk estimation for overall lymphoid neoplasms and specific subtypes based on WHO-HAEM5 criteria.
- Random-effects meta-analysis with assessments for heterogeneity and bias.
Main Results:
- Benzene exposure significantly increased overall lymphoid neoplasm risk (RR 1.26; 95% CI 1.18 to 1.35).
- Elevated risk observed for B-cell neoplasms (RR 1.26; 95% CI 1.16 to 1.37), including mature B-cell neoplasms, Hodgkin lymphoma, and plasma cell neoplasms.
- No significant increase in T-cell and natural killer cell neoplasm risk; occupational exposures showed higher risks than environmental ones.
Conclusions:
- Benzene exposure is strongly associated with an increased risk of lymphoid neoplasms, particularly B-cell subtypes.
- The WHO-HAEM5 classification refined subtype analysis, reducing heterogeneity and strengthening the observed associations.
- Findings emphasize the importance of biologically informed classification in cancer research and the need for targeted occupational safety and environmental health policies.
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