What is Benzene?
About Benzene
Benzene is one of the top 20 most-produced chemicals in the United States,
used primarily in the production of plastics and chemical products.
Significant quantities of benzene are found or used in oil refineries and
some types of chemical plants. It is also used in the manufacture of
pharmaceuticals, detergents, and explosives.
As an industrial chemical, it is used frequently as a solvent in the
chemical and drug industries.
Benzene has also been used in more common commercial and even household
products such as paint, paint thinners, glues, pesticides, and gasoline.
It is found in inks, furniture wax, plastics, and rubber. Benzene is also
found in emissions from burning coal and oil, vehicle exhaust,
evaporations from gasoline stations, and tobacco smoke.
Benzene is also known as carbon oil, benzine, benzol, and phenyl hydride.
Benzene Products:
* plastics and resins
* nylon and synthetic fibers
* some types of rubbers (condoms)
* lubricants
* dyes and detergents
* pesticides
What effect can benzene exposure have on my health?
According to the National Insitutes of Health (NIH), "chronic exposure to
benzene is known to lead to progressive degeneration of the bone marrow
and…eventual leukemia."
Benzene exposure that has no apparent effect on the exposed person right
away may still result in diseases such as cancer and blood disorders.
Twenty or more years may pass before people begin to develop symptoms.
Who's at risk from benzene exposure?
Benzene Exposure Risks
More than three million workers are potentially exposed to benzene every
year. The use of benzene as a solvent has been banned in the US for more
than 20 years, but unfortunately, there is still benzene in most petroleum
solvents. Workers may inhale vapors from the solvent or absorb vapors
through their skin.