Living near a benzene release site – such as a refinery or
plant that releases the chemical into the air or water supply – puts people at
a higher risk for contracting non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to a new study.
Risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma are not well known,
though the disease is more common in older individuals. Nearly 70,000 new cases
appear in the United States each year, leading to nearly 20,000 deaths annually
– and incidences of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are only expected to increase as the
U.S. population ages.