Aplastic Anemia in an Automotive Paint Shop Worker

Various chemicals are known to cause aplastic anemia due to bone marrow toxicity. Long-term exposure to benzene in the workplace has been associated with hematological disorders (thrombocytopenia, aplastic anemia, acute myeloid leukemia, lymphoma). Although the use of pure benzene was banned and substituted with other solvents, benzene is still used in the form of mixtures. The automotive painting sector, in particular, is one of the areas where benzene and its derivatives are used more frequently. Benzene and its derivatives are used to increase the fluidity of paints and are included in paints, thinners, and varnishes. Hematotoxicity of benzene is related to the amount and duration of exposure. In Turkey, there are serious difficulties in the implementation of occupational health and safety measures in small-scale enterprises. In this case report, it was described how aplastic anemia developed in a patient who had worked in a small-size automotive painting business with inadequate occupational health and safety measures for 23 years might be related to occupational benzene exposure. It is recommended that such businesses should be inspected concerning occupational health and safety and necessary precautions should be taken in order to prevent such serious, preventable occupational diseases.