ABSTRACT
Testing of blood elements was carried out on a sample of 51 semiskilled workers employed in a sewing machine dye-works and exposed to the effect of solutions containing benzene for a period of 11.8 years. The sample consisted of 17 men and 34 women, the average age being 35 years. Up to 1981 values of benzene in the solution were under the maximal allowable concentration (MAC). From 1981 the injurious agents and their homologues were no longer present in the solution. The results of testing show a significant drop in the number of leukocytes in workers exposed to the effect of benzene for a long period of time. Comparison of blood components was carried out in the same workers during 1981 and 1986. It was found that after exposure to the solution containing benzene ceased (although under MAC), the number of elements of all blood components increased, particularly the values of erythrocytes and thrombocytes (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01 respectively).
