Health Effects of Benzene Exposure

From Louisiana Attorneys Landry & Swarr

New materials are constantly being introduced into our daily life, to make things easier, better, and more convenient. Sometimes, however, materials that we thought were safe have proven to be very harmful, and materials that are safe in certain situations or limited quantities can wind up being dangerous when used in other conditions.

One of those materials happens to be benzene. Originally produced from coal tar, benzene is a highly flammable chemical solvent that dissolves slightly in water and evaporates quickly.

Natural sources of benzene include forest fires and volcanic activity, and it is also present in oil and gas emissions, as well as being a major component of cigarette smoke. Its prevalence in the United States comes as a result of its industrial uses, as benzene is used in the production of plastic products and other fibers.

The prevalence of benzene is also used in oil refineries, chemical plants, shoe manufacturers, and gasoline-related industries, and the air around these locations also contains higher levels of benzene than other areas.

Benzene is also found in various everyday products, such as:

  • Rubber
  • Crude oil (i.e., petroleum products)
  • Resin
  • Pesticide
  • Industrial Solvents
  • Glues
  • Dyes
  • Lubricants
  • Paints and lacquers
  • Motor vehicle exhaust
  • Cleaning products (i.e., detergents)

Although benzene levels are regulated by several government agencies such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are still risks presented through occupational exposure and environmental exposure.

The chemical can have a variety of effects on people, including multiple stages of illness and injury. Exposure to benzene, or benzene poisoning, can have both short- and long-term effects on the body.

Short-Term Effects

Short-term issues can be caused by breathing, ingesting, or coming into physical contact with materials that have benzene in them. Breathing in high levels of benzene can result in a variety of symptoms over a few minutes or several hours, ranging from feelings of drowsiness or sleepiness and headaches to more serious conditions like tremors, confusion, and even death.

Symptoms can also arise as a result of ingesting benzene. The chemical was found in certain soft drinks in recent years, and ingestion can have both short- and long-term effects. 

In the time immediately following ingestion, it is common to feel some of the same effects as breathing benzene can cause (such as fatigue and dizziness) as well as vomiting and an upset stomach. Ingestion can also lead to seizures, unconsciousness, or even death if high levels of benzene are consumed.

Benzene can also cause some damage when it comes into physical contact with a person’s skin or eyes. Because the chemical causes cell damage, contact with benzene can result in tissue damage, blisters, and scarring, and contact with the eyes can obviously have serious effects on the person’s vision.

Short-term exposure to benzene should be treated immediately. If the chemical is present in the air, moving away from the area that is contaminated with the chemical is important. It helps to go outside, as the concentration of the chemical is lower in open spaces. If the leak happens outside, simply move away from that area.

Those that come into physical contact with the chemical should wash themselves and dispose of the contaminated clothing immediately. In the case of ingestion, it is important to call for medical attention, as hospital treatment is the most effective remedy.

Long-Term Damage

Many of the most common cases of benzene exposure that lead to toxic chemical law claims have involved long-term exposure to the substance. People working in the industries that use benzene the most—like in plastic manufacturing plants—tend to be at the greatest risk for high exposure levels to the chemical, and long-term exposure can cause damages and health problems in a variety of ways.

Over time, the cell damage caused by benzene can manifest itself in the form of several conditions. Blood-related illnesses are most frequent.

Damage done to the bone marrow can lead to a decrease in red blood cells, which causes anemia, and the effects of benzene exposure on the white blood cells can lead to immune system disorders. The damage can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, which can increase the chance for infection.

In extreme cases, benzene can also lead to cancer. In fact, benzene is one of the substances that the EPA calls a “known human carcinogen,” a substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.

Leukemia has been linked with benzene exposure, as the organs that affect blood creation are damaged over time, even with low levels of benzene ingestion.

Long-term effects are more difficult to avoid, so it is important to work to prevent them in the first place. 

Be aware of the risks of working in certain industries and with certain products. You can also click here to learn more about benzene law in Louisiana.