Consider the following statements 1. Cigarette smoking exposes a person to benzene. 2. Benzene is a known carcinogen. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct ?

Cigarette smoking is a significant source of benzene exposure. Mainstream cigarette smoke accounts for approximately half of the total population exposure to benzene in the United States [t1][t4]. Studies indicate that among smokers, 90% of their benzene exposure is derived directly from smoking [t4]. Benzene levels in blood are significantly higher in smokers compared to non-smokers [t5]. Furthermore, benzene is universally recognized as a potent carcinogen. It is classified as a 'known human carcinogen' by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the National Toxicology Program (NTP) [t1][t5][t8]. Chronic exposure to benzene is specifically linked to an increased risk of developing leukemia, particularly acute myeloid leukemia [t5][t6][t9]. Therefore, both statements are scientifically accurate: smoking exposes individuals to benzene, and benzene is a known carcinogen.

Sources

1. [1] https://downloads.regulations.gov/EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0357-0051/attachment_1.pdf
2. [2] https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/benzene
3. [3] https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/sites/default/files/ntp/roc/content/profiles/benzene.pdf
4. [4] https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/benzene.pdf
5. [5] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1638019/