| Benzene, also known as benzol, is a liquid | | | | to cause irregular menstrual periods in women |
| organic chemical compound that evaporates | | | | and decrease the size of their ovaries. |
| quickly and partly dissolves in water. It is | | | | Exposure to benzene is responsible for low |
| colorless and highly flammable. It is also a | | | | birth weights, delayed bone formation and |
| known carcinogen, or cancer-causing | | | | even bone marrow damage in laboratory |
| substance. When added to petrol, it increases | | | | animals. |
| the octane rating and reduces the knocking | | | | |
| noise in some engines. | | | | Long term benzene exposure through the blood |
| | | | damages the bone marrow and can decrease red |
| Benzene's sweet smell made it a favorite | | | | blood cell count, leading to anemia. It can |
| after-shave lotion in the 19th and early | | | | cause excessive bleeding and depress the |
| twentieth centuries. It was used as a popular | | | | immune system, increasing the risk of |
| method to decaffeinate coffee in the early | | | | infection. Benzene causes leukemia and other |
| 1900s. It was used as an industrial solvent | | | | cancers of the blood; and has been linked to |
| to degrease metal prior to the 1920s. Even as | | | | a rare form of kidney cancer. Benzene is also |
| recent as the 1970s hardware stores sold | | | | found in tobacco smoke. |
| benzene in small cans. It was a very popular | | | | |
| ingredient in paint strippers, rubber cement | | | | Today, several tests can determine if someone |
| and other products containing hydrocarbon. As | | | | has been exposed to benzene. The test to |
| time passed, and research showed the | | | | measure benzene in the breath must be done |
| carcinogenic properties of benzene, | | | | shortly after exposure for accurate results. |
| alternative methods were found for each of | | | | Benzene disappears quickly from the blood as |
| its many uses. | | | | well. Blood tests must be done very soon |
| | | | after exposure to determine exposure levels. |
| Today, benzene is still used to make some | | | | The body metabolizes benzene and metabolites |
| products, but not nearly as often. Currently | | | | such as trans, trans-muconic acid can be |
| it is used as a component for other useful | | | | measured in the urine. This test must also |
| chemicals. Most common uses include styrene, | | | | been done shortly after exposure and is not a |
| phenol and cyclohexane. Small amounts are | | | | reliable indicator as to the exposure level |
| used to make rubbers, lubricants, dyes, | | | | of benzene. The same metabolites produced by |
| detergents, drugs, explosives, napalm and | | | | benzene may be present from other sources. |
| some pesticides. | | | | |
| | | | OSHA set an acceptable exposure limit of |
| Benzene Causes Cancer | | | | benzene to maintain a healthier workplace for |
| | | | those working with substances containing |
| When inhaled directly for any extended | | | | benzene. Spills of ten pounds of benzene or |
| period, benzene can be fatal. Prolonged | | | | more must be reported to the EPA in a timely |
| exposure to benzene was reported to cause | | | | manner. Even levels of benzene deemed safe |
| cancer in the 1920s. Studies have shown | | | | should be avoided by whatever means |
| benzene causes cancer in both genders of | | | | necessary. Prolonged exposure to even small |
| multiple species of laboratory animals as | | | | amounts can cause serious health risks. |
| well as human beings. Benzene has also shown | | | | |