In a study by Clavel and colleagues (1995, 1996, 1998), no excess risks were observed between exposure to benzene and hairy cell leukemia. In another case-control study, exposure to benzene was associated with risk of hairy cell leukemia (Staines and Cartwright, 1993), although CIs included unity (OR=2.00, 95% CI=0.50–8.00).

Nordström and colleagues (1998) found an association between hairy cell leukemia and self-reported exposures to white spirit (or naphtha) (OR=2.0, 95% CI=1.2–3.4), acetone (OR=1.2, 95% CI=0.3–4.3), and trichloroethylene (OR=1.5, 95% CI=0.7–3.3).

Clavel and colleagues (1995, 1998) inquired about exposure to organic solvents and found little evidence of an association between hairy cell leukemia and exposure to solvent mixtures or occupations involving exposure to organic solvents, such as painting, spray painting, printing, and laundry and dry cleaning. Staines and Cartwright (1993) also did not find strong evidence of an association with organic solvents (OR=1.45, 95% CI=0.58–3.66), while Nordström and colleagues (1998) found positive associations between hairy cell leukemia and exposure to all solvents (OR=1.5, 95% CI=0.99–2.3) and working with paints (OR=4.3, 95% CI=1.8–10.3).

No conclusions were drawn on an association between exposure to specific solvents or unspecified mixtures of organic solvents and hairy cell leukemia. Table 6.44 identifies the studies related to hairy cell leukemia and solvent exposure. Unless indicated in the table, the study populations include both men and women.