Although benzene, ionizing radiation and lead are the most common causal agents in occupational blood diseases, technological development has led to a significant increase in the number of occupational haemotoxic agents.
The health hazard is particularly increased during work such as the degreasing of metal components, dissolving and reprocessing rubber, the manufacture of solvents for glues, paints and varnishes, the use of printing inks (heliogravure and photogravure) and dry cleaning. Other activities which may be the source of agents producing occupational blood diseases include the leather industry, textile industry, woodworking industry, battery manufacture, and work in the vicinity of sources of ionizing radiation or carbon monoxide.