INTRODUCTION: This study@ conducted for the American Petroleum Institute@ was designed to assess the feasibility of administering benzene in the drinking water to 30 Fischer 344 rats (5/sex/group) at dose levels of 101@ 305@ and 700 mg/liter for a period of 15 days. Control animals (5/sex) received unadulterated drinking water. Body weight and water consumption measurements were performed on all animals for one week pretest and daily during the treatment period. After 15 days of treatment@ all survivors were sacrificed and discarded. Species and strain of test animal@ method and route of test substance administration and dose levels were determined by the sponsor. This study was conducted at Bio/dynamics@ Inc.@ Mettlers Road@ East Millstone@ New Jersey 08875. All raw data@ the original study protocol@ the original final report and a sample of the test substance are stored in the Archives of Bio/dynamics@ Inc.