Comment on Zheng et al. Association between Promoter Methylation of Gene ERCC3 and Benzene Hematotoxicity. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2017, 14, 921.

Hanns Moshammer,Michael Poteser

doi:10.3390/ijerph14111393

Abstract

Benzene is an established carcinogenic substance [1,2].[...].

Highlights

Benzene is an established carcinogenic substance [1,2]
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) [2] provides a lengthy discussion on the mechanisms and tries to explain why genotoxicity in men is almost exclusively observed in the hemopoetic system, it still is surprising that other organs with high metabolic activity like the liver do not seem to be affected
Zheng et al [5] report about epigenetic effects of benzene exposure and propose that the promoter region of the ERCC3 gene plays an important role in benzene hematoxicity

Summary

Introduction

Benzene is an established carcinogenic substance [1,2]. Benzene displays rather low acute toxicity in various animal species [1], and benzene itself is not mutagenic in the classical bacterial tests. Zheng et al [5] report about epigenetic effects of benzene exposure and propose that the promoter region of the ERCC3 gene plays an important role in benzene hematoxicity. In an earlier study of the same participants [6], they found that the average methylation level in the promoter region of the ERCC3 gene was higher in the exposed workers.

Results

Conclusion