Benzene exposure has been linked to metabolic disorders, but its effect on adipose tissue had not been fully understood until a recent study, which discovered that exposure to the ubiquitous pollutant could induce lipodystrophy and disturb endocrine function of white adipose tissue. Adult mice exposed to benzene displayed decreased body fat content as well as disturbed lipid homeostasis and adipokine levels, while mature adipocytes exposed to hydroquinone, a toxic metabolite of benzene, also showed decreased fat content and endocrine function. This sheds light on the complex biological functions of adipose tissue and its interactions with lipophilic pollutants.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9326257/