Toxic Exposures: Benzene

Toxic Exposure to Benzene

Benzene is a chemical that is often used in manufacturing. For many years, it was a common industrial solvent. In its most common form, benzene is a liquid that is clear, slightly sweet smelling, and highly flammable.

Benzene is often used in making rubber, paint and plastics. Benzene is also a byproduct of the coking process during steel production. Humans most often come into contact with benzene either by breathing it in, drinking contaminated water, or through skin absorption.

Benzene is used in many industries including:

• Chemical Workers
• Gasoline distribution workers
• Industrial plant workers who use solvents
• Newspaper Press Workers
• Offshore Workers
• Painters
• Paper and Pulp
• Pipefitters
• Printers
• Refinery Workers
• Rubber Workers
• Shoe / Leather workers
• Synthetic Rubber Production
• Truck Drivers

A known carcinogen, benzene can be harmful to those exposed to it over an extended period of time. Benzene exposure is most dangerous when it occurs over a long period of time or when the concentration of benzene to which a person is exposed is very high.

Benzene is most closely associated with Acute Myelocytic Leukemia (AML) and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

Contact us for more information about our toxic exposure to Benzene.