journal contribution
posted on 2025-11-03, 08:40 authored by Veer Shah, Darshi Shah, Vincent DeStefano, Mattia Bonetti, Paolo Boffetta, Monireh Sadat Seyyedsalehi <p>Supplementary Table 1 details the search strategies used to identify relevant studies from three major biomedical databases: PubMed, Embase (Ovid), and Scopus. For each database, the specific search strings are provided, including combinations of terms related to benzene exposure, neoplasms, and various spellings or synonyms for both exposures and outcomes. The search strategies also outline filters and limits applied for study population (e.g., humans), language (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish), document type, and relevant subject areas, while excluding irrelevant fields. These comprehensive and tailored search approaches ensure the systematic identification of pertinent literature addressing the association between benzene exposure and cancer risk in occupational settings.</p>
History
ARTICLE ABSTRACT
Benzene is a known cause of leukemia and other blood cancers, but its link to female genital cancers (ovarian, endometrial, and cervical) remains unclear. This meta-analysis evaluated the association between occupational benzene exposure and the risk of these cancers. A systematic search of PubMed, SCOPUS, and EMBASE identified 7,221 publications, with nine cohort studies meeting inclusion criteria. Summary risk ratios (RR) were calculated using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses; Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology; and Participants, Exposition, Comparators, Outcomes, and Study Design guidelines. Study quality was assessed with a modified Newcastle–Ottawa scale, and publication bias was evaluated via the Egger test and funnel plots. The overall summary RR for benzene exposure was 1.22 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03–1.44], primarily driven by mortality (RR = 1.69; 95% CI, 1.18–2.41) rather than incidence (RR = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.91–1.29). Cancer-specific RRs were 1.24 for cervical, 1.21 for endometrial, and 1.28 for ovarian cancers, none reaching statistical significance. No significant heterogeneity was found by cancer type, region, exposure duration, industry, or study quality. No publication bias was detected (P = 0.43). This analysis suggests a potential association between occupational benzene exposure and increased risk of female genital cancers, particularly in mortality data. However, the evidence remains inconclusive due to potential confounding factors and limitations in the available studies.
