Risk of developing hematopoietic cancer associated with the use of the benzene-containing cleaning product ‘PX-10’ in the Dutch Armed Forces

Abstract

Background: Liability claims were filed against the Dutch Ministry of Defence (MoD) related to serious health complaints due to the historical use of the weapon cleaning and maintaining product PX-10. PX-contained 0.1% benzene till 1970, but thereafter, concentrations fell sharply. Yearly average levels of exposure to benzene have been estimated to lie between 0 and 0.5 ppm in various exposure situations in the Dutch Armed Forces. Aim: To quantify the risk of developing acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) associated with the use of PX-10. Methods: Two realistic ‘high-risk’ career scenarios were included in life table analysis using multiplicative risk functions. One scenario represented military personnel of the Navy, who cleaned small arms in weapon rooms and on ships and the other represented civilians cleaning small arms in small workshops. Results:Three to four per 1,000 Dutch men develop AML during their lifetime in the general population. The additional risk of developing AML among military personnel who worked with PX-10 intensively for many years was determined to be 0.03 extra cases per 1,000 men. Conclusion: It seems unlikely that additional cases of AML will have developed among Dutch military personnel due to the use of PX-10, even if a few thousand military personnel were exposed to PX-10.