Benzene FAQ

What is Benzene?

Benzene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor. It evaporates into the air very quickly and dissolves slightly in water. It is highly flammable and is formed from both natural processes and human activities.

How is Benzene Used?

Benzene is widely used in the United States; Benzene is ranked in the top 20 chemicals for production volume. Some industries benzene uses are to make other chemicals which are used to make plastics, resins, and nylon and synthetic fibers. Benzene is also used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.

How am I exposed to Benzene?

Those at highest risk from Benzene exposure are people that are exposed to the chemical on a daily basis because of their frequent exposure to the chemical. Some symptoms of exposure to Benzene include: convulsions, confusion, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, unconsciousness, and vomiting. Exposure to Benzene can result whenever carbon-rich materials undergo incomplete combustion. The biggest threat to people from exposure to benzene comes from this highly toxic chemical being used in everyday items. This toxic chemical is widely used in a vast range of household products, such as plastics, detergents, synthetic fibers, resins, dyes, rubber, paint, as well as countless other items. Unfortunately, benzene exposure is something that is hard to avoid, as this chemical occurs naturally in the environment; it is produced naturally in volcanoes and forest fires and is also a component of cigarette smoke.

How many individuals are exposed to Benzene annually?

In 1997, OSHA estimated that about 798,000 workers in the United States were potentially exposed to benzene; it is not known if this number has substantially changed since then. Many people have suffered the painful, uncomfortable, and undesirable effects of Benzene exposure, and some have even lost their lives through exposure to this chemical. Lawsuits have already been filed by many of those affected by Benzene exposure, and some by the relations of those that have died due to their exposure to Benzene. People who have the following jobs are often exposed to substantial concentrations of benzene at work: chemical workers, chemists, coke oven workers, gasoline distribution workers, gas station attendants, laboratory technicians, leather workers, mechanics, newspaper pressmen, painters, printers, refinery workers, railroad workers, rubber workers, seamen, shoe workers, and tanker truck drivers.

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