RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) RsaI/PstI and DraI polymorphisms in workers exposed to benzene.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A cross-sectional survey was carried out. A total of 71 workers exposed to benzene were included in observation group and the same number of people without occupational benzene exposure were included in control group. Blood samples from the two groups were collected and genotyping for CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI and DraI were conducted using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in CYP2E1 DraI genotype and allele distributions between the observation group and the control group (χ² = 2.374, P > 0.05; χ² = 2.113, P > 0.05). Significant differences in CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI genotype and allele distributions between the two groups were observed (χ² = 9.129, P < 0.01; χ² = 6.028, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Mutations at CYP2E1 RsaI/PstI can enhance the expression of CYP2E1 and this suggests individuals with the mutated gene have increased susceptibility to chronic benzene poisoning.</p>