A comprehensive review of all case-control and cohort studies that identified probable occupational exposures to benzene and NHL morbidity or mortality showed evidence of an association between occupational benzene exposure and NHL. Studies in experimental animals and of therapy-related lymphoma in the clinical setting support this finding. Potential mechanisms for lymphoma induction by benzene include immunotoxicity and chromosomal damage resulting in translocations and deletions. Further work is needed to elucidate these mechanisms.