Acute Myelogenous Leukemia

Acute myelogenous leukemia is one of the most common types of leukemia in adults, affecting more than 10,000 adults that are diagnosed every year in the U.S. This type of leukemia is a blood cancer that develops in specific types of white blood cells that are used by the body to fight off infection. The white blood cells affected are called granulocytes and monocytes that are created from stem cells that have the ability to develop into different kinds of blood cells.

Benzene Exposure

Benzene, a colorless, sweet-smelling chemical, is used in a number of products, including dyes, solvents, paints, plastics, chemical products, and the petroleum industry. Those working with Benzene products are classed as a high risk group, and this is because these people are at increased risk of dangerous exposure levels of Benzene, which can result in a range of debilitating health problems, including leukemia. It is estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency that around fifty percent of the United States population have been exposed to Benzene, but those that work with the chemical – particularly those working with petroleum based solvents – are the ones exposed to it at higher levels and prolonged periods.

Benzene has been identified as a human carcinogenic that causes various forms of leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood forming organs that originates in the bone marrow. Leukemia results in uncontrolled growth of marrow cells. Two major classifications of leukemia exist, myelogenous or lymphocytic that can be either acute or chronic depending on their onset.