| If you have been exposed to benzene while at work and are now suffering serious health conditions such as ACUTE MYELOGENOUS LEUKEMIA, please Contact a Benzene Lawyer.
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| Benzene Related Illnesses • Blood disorders Benzene Exposure Can Cause |
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Benzene Risk It may take up to twenty years to develop symptoms of benzene health conditions. Although using benzene in the U.S. as a solvent has been banned for many years now, workers using solvents continue to be exposed to benzene because it is still present in some degree in most petroleum solvents. |
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Benzene Associated to Many Health Effects |
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Workplace Benzene Exposure Limits NIOSH - The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.1 ppm averaged over a 10-hour workshift and 1 ppm not to be exceeded during any 15-minute work period. ACGIH - The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.5 ppm averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 2.5 ppm as a short-term exposure limit. |
Benzene FAQs
What is benzene? «
Does benzene cause cancer? «
What is a carcinogen? «
Why is benzene regulated? «
What health problems does benzene cause? «
Is benzene still a risk? «
How much benzene is produced and released into the environment? «
When benzene is released into the environment what happens? «
How can someone be exposed to benzene? «
Is the risk for getting sick from benzene greater in workers than residents? «
Do I have any legal rights for the benzene exposure I have endured? «
What is benzene?
Benzene is a clear, colorless aromatic liquid that is highly flammable. Benzene evaporates into air very quickly and dissolves in water slightly. Benzene is used widely in the U.S. as a building block for plastics, rubber, resins, and synthetic fabrics, as well as solvent in printing, paints, dry cleaning, and a variety of other things.
Does benzene cause cancer?
The Department of Health and Human Services has determined that benzene is a known human carcinogen. Exposure to high levels of benzene has been associated with leukemia cancer, including acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia, and other illnesses.
What is a carcinogen?
A carcinogen is a substance with the ability to cause cancer. Benzene has been identified as a human carcinogen. There may be no safe level of exposure to a carcinogen so all contact should be completely avoided.
Why is benzene regulated?
Benzene is regulated because of the dangerous health effects that benzene poisoning is known to cause.The U.S. Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974 requiring the EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water. Benzene's level has been set to zero. The EPA calls these levels Maximum Contaminant Level Goals and the EPA set a standard called Maximum Contaminant Levels based on that. The maximum amount of benzene allowed in drinking water is set at 0.005 milligrams per liter. EPA has also required that spills or accidental releases of 10 pounds or more of benzene be reported. OSHA has set a permissible exposure limit of 1 part of benzene per million parts of air in the workplace during an 8-hour workday in a 40-hour workweek.
What health problems does benzene cause?
Even a small amount of benzene exposure can cause temporary nervous system disorders, immune system depression, and anemia. High levels of benzene can result in death, drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, unconsciousness, vomiting, and stomach irritation. Benzene has been identified as a carcinogen and can cause various forms of leukemia from as little as five years of exposure, resulting in death in some instances.
Is benzene still a risk?
Despite benzene having been banned as a solvent in the U.S. for over twenty years, workers are continually exposed to direct and indirect sources of the chemical.
How much benzene is produced and released into the environment?
Benzene is generally released into the air from gasoline fumes and exhaust. According to the Toxics Release Inventory, over 2 million pounds of benzene were released from 1987-1992 to air and land. The majority of benzene releases were from petroleum refining industries.
When benzene is released into the environment what happens?
Benzene released to soil will evaporate very quickly or leach to groundwater. Some soil microbes can break down benzene and some ground waters can degrade benzene. Benzene released to surface water usually evaporates within a few hours.
How can someone be exposed to benzene?
- Oil and gas refineries.
- Air containing low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, car service stations, motor vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions.
- Air surrounding hazardous waste sites or gas stations contain a higher level of benzene.
- Indoor air that have products containing benzene, such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
- Underground storage tanks or hazardous waste sites containing benzene can contaminate well water.
- There are many industries that expose workers to benzene.
- Certain paints and paint making processes.
- Benzene-containing cleaners and solvents.
Do I have any legal rights for the benzene exposure I have endured?
If you have developed leukemia or cancer due to benzene exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. To speak with a benzene attorney, please contact us.
If you have been exposed to benzene while at work and are now suffering serious health conditions such as such as acute myelogenous leukemia, please Contact a Benzene Lawyer .