| 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 |
Benzene Risk
Workers employed in industries using or producing benzene have the greatest risk for Benzene Exposure and of suffering the life threatening conditions associated to the carcinogen with estimates of 2-3 million U.S. workers at risk for benzene exposure. OSHA has estimated that 238,000 workers in the U.S. may be exposed to benzene during refining operations, gasoline storage, shipment, retail operations, chemical manufacturing, and plastics and rubber manufacturing. In addition, steel workers, printers, rubber workers, shoe makers, laboratory technicians, and gas station employees can be at risk for Benzene Exposure.
There have been studies performed in China and in Great Britain showing benzene can cause cancer and blood diseases at very low doses at just a few parts per million years. OSHA standards have permissible Benzene Exposure at 1 ppm, but benzene is still able to cause health effects at this level. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists recommended a limit value of .5 ppm of benzene and NIOSH sets their recommended Benzene Exposure limit of 0.1 ppm. It took 10 years for OSHA to set the standards in place today even though the first report of Benzene Exposure causing leukemia was published in 1928.
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. The workers can develop benzene poisoning through inhalation of the vapors evaporating from the solvent and by absorbing it through their skin by handling materials soaked with the solvents.
The consequences of Benzene Exposure can be deadly. Benzene has been shown to cause rare forms of leukemia, including acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia. If you have been exposed to benzene while at work and are now suffering serious health conditions, please contact us to learn more about your legal rights.
Reducing Benzene Risk In the Workplace
- Immediately change out of work clothing that may have been contaminated by benzene.
- Work clothing exposed to benzene should be cleaned only by those informed of the risks and hazards of benzene. Workers should not take the contaminated clothing home to expose family members.
- Employers should have eye wash fountains provided in case of emergencies.
- Immediate skin contact should be washed or showered in order to remove the human carcinogen.
- The employer should provide emergency shower facilities.
- All workers with possible benzene exposure should immediately wash the areas that may have been exposed.
- Any food or drink ingestion, as well as smoking, should be completely avoided in areas benzene is handled, processed, or stored. The dangerous chemical can be swallowed so hands should be thoroughly washed prior to eating, drinking, smoking, or using the bathroom.
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 .