Certified Pediatric Hematology Oncology Nurse (CPHON) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

Benzene is strongly linked to genetic events that can lead to marrow failure, specifically because it is known to be a bone marrow toxin and is classified as a leukemogen. Chronic exposure to benzene has been associated with various hematological disorders, including aplastic anemia and leukemia. This connection is due to benzene's ability to interfere with normal blood cell production and cause damage to the DNA within hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, leading to a higher risk of developing conditions such as marrow failure.

The other chemicals listed have been studied for their toxic effects but do not show the same strong, direct association with marrow failure as benzene. Formaldehyde, for instance, has some links to other health issues but is less directly implicated in marrow toxicity. Arsenic primarily has associations with skin and bladder cancers, while chloroform has been studied for its potential carcinogenic effects but lacks a robust connection to bone marrow failure specifically. This makes benzene the most significant chemical in the context of genetic events leading to marrow failure.