Benzene Questions

What is benzene?
Benzene is a clear, colorless aromatic liquid that is highly flammable. Benzene is highly flammable and evaporates into air very quickly and dissolves in water slightly. The chemical benzene is used widely in the U.S. as a building block for plastics, rubber, resins, and synthetic fabrics, a 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 determined benzene is a known human carcinogen. Exposure to high levels of benzene has been associated to cases of leukemiacancer, including acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphocytic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia, as well as many other types.

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. 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. It is EPA 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 was identified as a carcinogen and can cause various forms of leukemia from just five years of exposure, resulting in death in some instances.

Is benzene still a risk?
Despite benzene being 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 mainly released into the air from gasoline fumes and exhaust. The Toxics Release Inventory identified that over 2 million pounds of benzene to water and land was released from 1987-1992. 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 seep into 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.

Benzene Breaking News

"Unsafe Benzene Exposure in Alabama"

A recent study conducted by the Conservation Alabama Foundation (CAF) has found that four of Alabama's largest cities contain highly polluted air, including high levels of benzene. Amo...

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"Petrochem Companies' Products Contact Benzene"

Texas couple Jan and James Callihan filed a lawsuit against six petrochemical companies, claiming the products the defendants produce and distribute exposed James to unsafe levels of benzene. They allege this exposure is what caused J...

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"Mayor of Houston to Fight Benzene Emissions"

Three-term Houston Mayor Bill White has recently found a creative way to try to force certain industries into making changes that would reduce their excessive benzene emissions – by interfering with the renewal of their operating permits.

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Benzene Questions

Benzene Breaking News

"Unsafe Benzene Exposure in Alabama"

"Petrochem Companies' Products Contact Benzene"

"Mayor of Houston to Fight Benzene Emissions"

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