Advances in Genetic Damages and Epigenetic Changes in Populations Exposed to Low-Concentration Benzene

Long-term occupational exposure to benzene is associated with an increased risk of hematologic malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia. More and more studies have shown that occupational exposure to low-concentration benzene (time-weighted average allowable concentration less than 6 mg/m³ and short-term benzene exposure concentration less than 10 mg/m³) may also cause physical damages. Genetic damages and epigenetic regulation, as the main mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis, have attracted people's attention. This article reviews the studies concerning populations with genetic damages and epigenetic changes after low-concentration benzene exposure; the main contents include genetic damages (chromosome damage, DNA damage and repair, and telomere length changes) and epigenetic changes (DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA), aiming to provide clues for subsequent studies related to low-concentration benzene.