Introduction
What is benzene? Benzene is a highly flammable liquid that has no color and has a distinguished sweet aroma. It evaporates fast when exposed to air but does not dissolve completely in water. Some 60 years ago, benzene has been declared toxic and harmful but it remained widely used as industrial chemical and additive. In the United States, benzene is in the top 20 of most-used and most-produced chemical.
One of Industrial Sources of Benzene -- Emissions from Factories
(Photo courtesy by pfala from Flickr)
One of Industrial Sources of Benzene -- Emissions from Factories
(Photo courtesy by pfala from Flickr)
Common Commercial Products Containing Benzene
Styrene is, a chemical made from benzene, used to manufacture nylon, synthetic fibers, plastics, and resins. Small amounts of benzene is included in the production processes of lubricants, detergents, dyes, pesticides, furniture wax, rubbers, and even drugs. Forest fires and volcanoes produce benzene naturally. It is also a major component of gasoline, crude oil, and cigarette smoke.
Benzene as Environmental Toxin
Benzene in gasoline is emitted with the exhaust smoke. Benzene in the air can be carried back down into the ground by rain and snow. It can pass through soil into underground water. It does not build up in animals and plants though.
Low levels of benzene are most probably present inside the home because almost all household products are manufactured using the substance. The government has set a maximum permissible level of benzene in foods and drinks. The safe ratio is 0.005 milligrams per liter of water.
High levels of benzene are often found in gas stations, waste sites, and industrial factories using or producing benzene as another chemical. The set limit is 1 part benzene per million parts of air in the workplace (1 ppm)-for 8-hour shifts and 40-hour work weeks.
Low levels of benzene are most probably present inside the home because almost all household products are manufactured using the substance. The government has set a maximum permissible level of benzene in foods and drinks. The safe ratio is 0.005 milligrams per liter of water.
High levels of benzene are often found in gas stations, waste sites, and industrial factories using or producing benzene as another chemical. The set limit is 1 part benzene per million parts of air in the workplace (1 ppm)-for 8-hour shifts and 40-hour work weeks.
Benzene Can Cause Cancer
Benzene is a known carcinogen, which is a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. Prolonged exposure to high levels of benzene can result to leukemia (such as acute myelogenous leukemia). Other diseases that are linked to benzene are: myelodysplastic syndrome, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, aplastic anemia, and many more.
Signs of benzene poisoning include: dizziness, drowsiness, headache, convulsions, rapid heart rate, vomiting, unconsciousness, and death. Testing to prove presence of benzene inside the body should be done shortly after exposure because the chemical dissolves in the blood and evaporates quickly in the air. Benzene can be measured by a breath, blood test, or urine test.
Signs of benzene poisoning include: dizziness, drowsiness, headache, convulsions, rapid heart rate, vomiting, unconsciousness, and death. Testing to prove presence of benzene inside the body should be done shortly after exposure because the chemical dissolves in the blood and evaporates quickly in the air. Benzene can be measured by a breath, blood test, or urine test.
Benzene YouTube Videos
Benzene Leukemia Law Blog
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byRelated Links
- Benzene - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Benzene, or benzol, is an organic chemical compound and a known carcinogen with the molecular formula C6H6. It is sometimes abbreviated Ph-H. Benzene is a ...
- ATSDR - ToxFAQs%u2122: Benzene
- 5 Oct 2007 ... Benzene is a widely used chemical formed from both natural processes and human activities. Breathing benzene can cause drowsiness, ...
- US FDA/CFSAN - Questions and Answers on the Occurrence of Benzene ...
- The results of a survey conducted on over 100 samples of soft drinks and other beverages tested for benzene presented in Q and A format.
- bonding in benzene - the Kekulé structure
- A description of the Kekulé structure for benzene and the reasons (including hydrogenation energies) why it isn't satisfactory.
Benzene News Posts from Google
- Platts Petrochemical Analysis: Asian benzene rises Feb 13; US benzene falls Feb 10
- Asian benzene rose $5/mt February 13 from February 10 to $1188/mt FOB Korea due to tight supply for prompt cargoes. "There are supply issues in the short run caused by the turnarounds of plants in southeast Asia," a trader said.
- Monitoring agency says EPA failed to share reports of Raritan River benzene ...
- By Warren Cooper/Somerset Messenger-Gazette BRIDGEWATER -- News of benzene contamination of the Raritan River downstream of the former American Cyanamid chemical manufacturing facility in 2006 was not disseminated by the state Department of ...
- Platts Petrochemical Analysis: Asian benzene falls, widening delta between ...
- The Asian benzene price fell $7.50 on February 10 to $1183/mt FOB Korea, widening the delta between the Asian and US prices. The US price, was assessed at $1255/mt FOB USG February 9, $72 above the Asian price. With freight costs of $53/mt for a 3000 ...
- Can Europe Derail the Shale Gas Express?
- Benzene is one of the many highly dangerous chemicals used in the process, while similar chemical compounds mix with, and finally contaminate, underground water supplies. The health and environmental claims against fracking and similar procedures are ...
by rebecca-gilford
rebecca-gilford
I have a variety of interests but it is on my on-going interest in both the topics of medicine and law that I'll be writing about here. Currently, I a... more »
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