Z77.021 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to benzene

Billable ICD-10-CM code, FY2026.

Applies from Z77 Other contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health

Includes

• contact with and (suspected) exposures to potential hazards to health

Excludes2 (not included here)

• contact with and (suspected) exposure to communicable diseases (Z20.-)
• exposure to (parental) (environmental) tobacco smoke in the perinatal period (P96.81)
• newborn affected by noxious substances transmitted via placenta or breast milk (P04.-)
• occupational exposure to risk factors (Z57.-)
• retained foreign body (Z18.-)
• retained foreign body fully removed (Z87.821)
• toxic effects of substances chiefly nonmedicinal as to source (T51-T65)

MS-DRG index

Defines the logic of DRG(s) 951 in MDC 23.

Approximate ICD-9-CM (GEMs)

• V87.12 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to benzene

Medicare Code Edits (MCE v43.1 (April 2026))

• Unacceptable principal diagnosis: These codes describe a circumstance which influences care but is not a current illness or injury, or capture only an underlying condition, and are unacceptable as principal diagnosis.

Code annotations containing back-references to Z77.021

Back-references to Z77

• Type 2 Excludes: P04 Newborn affected by noxious substances transmitted via placenta or breast milk ("newborn in contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health not transmitted via placenta or breast milk (Z77.-)")
• Type 1 Excludes: Z03 Encounter for medical observation for suspected diseases and conditions ruled out ("contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health (Z77.-)")
• Type 1 Excludes: Z13.88 Encounter for screening for disorder due to exposure to contaminants ("those exposed to contaminants without suspected disorders (Z57.-, Z77.-)")
• Type 2 Excludes: Z91 Personal risk factors, not elsewhere classified ("contact with and (suspected) exposures hazardous to health (Z77.-)")

Diagnosis Index entries for Z77.021

• Contact (with) › benzene
• Exposure (to) › benzene

Nearby codes

• Z77.011 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to lead
• Z77.012 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to uranium
• Z77.018 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other hazardous metals
• Z77.02 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to hazardous aromatic compounds
• Z77.020 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to aromatic amines
• Z77.021 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to benzene (this code)
• Z77.028 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other hazardous aromatic compounds
• Z77.09 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other hazardous, chiefly nonmedicinal, chemicals
• Z77.090 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to asbestos
• Z77.098 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to other hazardous, chiefly nonmedicinal, chemicals
• Z77.1 Contact with and (suspected) exposure to environmental pollution and hazards in the physical environment