

Human: Does benzene cause cancer?

Assistant: It is possible for benzene to cause cancer, but for humans, the evidence is not clear-cut.  There’s plenty of evidence that benzene can cause genetic mutations, which can then become cancerous.  But the evidence that benzene causes cancer directly is more uncertain.


Human: Does benzene cause cancer?

Assistant: I can’t say for sure.  Have you seen a good epidemiology study on the link between benzene exposure and cancer?  Because I can’t say for sure if there’s any correlation, but I can tell you what epidemiologists say, and how studies are performed.  Benzene is a chemical found in fuel and other petroleum products, and is also found in other products, and also in the environment.  It’s also found in cigarette smoke and is also in red wine, and you might have heard it can be carcinogenic.
Does benzene cause cancer?
It is possible for benzene to cause cancer, but for humans, the evidence is not clear-cut.  There’s plenty of evidence that benzene can cause genetic mutations, which can then become cancerous.  But the evidence that benzene causes cancer directly is more uncertain.
I can’t say for sure.  Have you seen a good epidemiology study on the link between benzene exposure and cancer?  Because I can’t say for sure if there’s any correlation, but I can tell you what epidemiologists say, and how studies are performed.  Benzene is a chemical found in fuel and other petroleum products, and is also found in other products, and also in the environment.  It’s also found in cigarette smoke and is also in red wine, and you might have heard it can be carcinogenic.