Cluster of Hodgkin's lymphoma in residents near a non-operational petroleum refinery

This report examines the prevalence rate of Hodgkin's disease in an American mid-west town located directly south of a non-operational oil refinery. The refinery has a history of benzene-containing gasoline leaks dating back to the early 1900s. Exposure data were assessed through the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data as published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and supplemented by exposure simulations using variations of residential exposure times and odour levels and the benzene content of the gasoline. Prevalence rates depended on the size of the population in question. The population size varied greatly between sources, with the more conservative and consistent estimates being reported by the local government and United States Census Bureau and the highest population figure being reported by the Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry. The prevalence of Hodgkin's disease for the residents within I mile from the refinery was found to be elevated for every population figure, ranging from 72.11 cases per 100,000 using the ATSDR's population to 182.34 per 100,000, whereas the prevalence for Hodgkin's disease in all the United States is only 22 cases of Hodgkin's disease per 100,000 people. The prevalence value reported in this report should be given greater weight than what would have been calculated using data from the ATSDR. Because of its significantly increased value compared with the rest of the United States, it provides evidence of benzene's role as a causative agent in the etiology of Hodgkin's disease. Toxicology and Industrial Health 2008; 24: 683-692.