Answer
Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that is known to have toxic effects on mammals. Brief exposures of 30 -60 minutes may produce symptoms such as eye irritation, headache, confusion, throat irritation, dizziness, and confusion. Mrs Ryan worked with benzene containing glue for several years and her chronic exposure resulted in red bone marrow poisoning with inimical impacts of hematopoiesis.
Mrs Ryan's nosebleeds are due to the fact that her benzene damaged bone marrow is not producing enough megakaryocytes and she is suffering from a deficiency of platelets. Thrombocytopenia could also be the cause of the petechiae and small bruises under her skin --especially if they exist mainly on her legs.
Work Step by Step
Mrs Ryan's chronic exposure to benzene was responsible for her symptoms(SS--) nose bleeds, petechiae and possibly some small bruises. It has been established by the CDC and the EPA that chronic exposure to benzene results in damage to the red bone marrow-- the hematopoietic tissue of the body. Actually, benzene itself is not toxic to bone marrow. However, when bone marrow myeloperoxidase enzymes act on benzene intermediate metabolites( like hydroquinone) toxic end products result that are very harmful to bone marrow.
The poisoning of the bone marrow has several negative effects on hematopoiesis: not enough RBCs are produced ; not enough platelets are produced; later leukocytes become dysfunctional. The first two two deficits lead to the development of anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Where there is thrombocytopenia, small capillary bleeds cannot clot in normal time ; consequently, they are seen as small petechiae, or larger purpuras under the skin. This explains one of Mrs Ryan's symptoms.
The frequent nosebleeds are due to a combination of benzene irritation and dehydration of the thin nasal mucosa. This situation is worsened by the failure of capillary blood coagulation in a thrombocytopenic environment.
Leukemias have not yet developed in Mrs Ryan , but if her exposure to benzene continues, they may. Prolonged exposure to benzene, may also , in time, cause myeloid leukemias.
