How Can I Prevent Being Sickened by Benzene?

Benzene is one of the most widely used and potentially dangerous chemicals in the US. Even though it can cause cancer and other severe health conditions, it’s an ingredient in many products. Over time, repeated or high-level exposure could lead to severe and life-altering conditions. Can you limit your exposure to reduce the risk of benzene impacting your health?

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyers in Louisville represent people in Kentucky and around the nation with cancer and other diseases caused by chemical exposure. If you have a benzene-related condition, we should discuss your potential legal claims for compensation. Call us at 855-385-9532 to learn more.

What Is Benzene?

Benzene is a colorless or light yellow liquid. It quickly evaporates at room temperature and has a sweet, gasoline-like smell. It’s easily ignited and is produced naturally and artificially. You’ll find it in crude oil, gasoline, volcanic emissions, wildfires, and in many industrial processes.

Benzene is used to make:

• Plastics and rubber
• Resins and synthetic fibers
• Dyes, detergents, and pharmaceuticals
• Pesticides
• Paints, solvents, and adhesives

Although it’s very useful, it’s also potentially deadly. Benzene can be toxic at extremely low exposure levels, and being around it can cause life-threatening illnesses.

How Can I Be Exposed to Benzene?

Exposure to benzene can happen by inhalation, through your skin, or by swallowing it. Exposure can occur at work if the chemical is used or produced there. You may also be exposed to benzene at home or at a gas station.

Workplaces have some of the highest risks of benzene exposure. Industries that use benzene include:

• Oil refineries and petroleum processing
• Chemical manufacturing
• Rubber and plastics production
• Printing and painting industries
• Tire manufacturing
• Gasoline distribution and storage

Mechanics, industrial workers, lab technicians, and anyone who works around solvents or degreasers may also be exposed. Exposure can happen gradually over years, making health consequences difficult to trace without ongoing medical evaluation. Someone can also become acutely ill if they’re suddenly exposed to a large dose of benzene.

You may also have benzene in your system because your exposure was caused by a nearby:

• Oil refinery
• Chemical plant
• Hazardous waste site

These locations may release benzene into the air, water, and soil.

Benzene may be present in a common consumer product, possibly due to manufacturing contamination. These products can include the following:

• Sunscreens and after-sun sprays
• Dry shampoos and deodorant sprays
• Hand sanitizers
• Some cleaning products

A contaminated product may give you low-level exposure. Your health may be at risk if it’s regularly repeated over long periods. You could also face frequent, low-level exposure from:

• Gasoline fumes
• Vehicle exhaust
• Cigarette smoke
• Household glue, paint, and cleaning solvents

Occasional, light exposure is less dangerous, but constant, low-level indoor exposure in poorly ventilated areas can accumulate over time.

Why is Benzene Toxic?

Benzene interferes with your bone marrow’s ability to produce healthy blood cells. Over time, the chemical can also damage your DNA, weaken your immune system, and cause acute and chronic illnesses. Some conditions may take years to develop. Some of them include the following:

1. Leukemia

Benzene’s strongest link to health problems is to blood cancers, especially:

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
• Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes (MDS)

Workers exposed to benzene have a greater risk of AML than the general population.

2. Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL)

Some studies found that benzene increases the risk of developing NHL, a cancer affecting the lymphatic system.

3. Aplastic Anemia

Benzene can cause bone marrow failure, which leads to aplastic anemia. This is a life-threatening condition where a person cannot produce enough blood cells.

4. Immune System Damage

Chronic benzene exposure may cause the following:

• Lower white blood cell counts
• Long-term immune suppression
• Increased vulnerability to infections

Without a healthy immune system, you may be more likely to suffer from mutated cells that don’t function properly.

5. Short-Term Effects

Sudden, high levels of exposure that could be caused by spills, fires, or industrial accidents may cause the following symptoms:

• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Unconsciousness

If exposure is heavy enough, it can be fatal.

Who Is Most at Risk?

Some people face significantly higher exposure levels, including:

• Industrial workers exposed to benzene vapors on the job
• Mechanics and technicians using degreasers or solvents
• Firefighters inhaling benzene-containing smoke and fumes
• Those working at gas stations
• Smokers and those exposed to second-hand smoke
• People living near refineries or chemical plants

The risk of injury increases with the duration, frequency, and intensity of exposure.

How Can I Reduce My Exposure or Avoid Benzene?

It may not be possible to prevent all benzene exposure, but you may be able to significantly reduce your risk of a related illness through the following measures:

1. On-the-Job Exposure

You should:

• Use the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) required protective equipment
• Properly ventilate benzene-related work areas
• Request from management benzene exposure monitoring if you suspect unsafe levels at the job site
• Review your employer’s Safety Data Sheets (SDS) to see if benzene is present
• Report inadequate safety practices to your supervisor, union representative, state workplace safety agency, or OSHA

Your employer has a legal obligation to provide you with a reasonably safe working environment.

2. Reduce Consumer Product Risks

To avoid unexpected exposure:

• Check recall notices for sunscreens, dry shampoos, and other products
• Avoid aerosol sprays when possible
• Choose products from reputable manufacturers with strong safety records

Non-aerosol alternatives often reduce risk significantly.

3. Limit Your Exposure to Gasoline Fumes

Gasoline fumes and engine exhaust from gasoline-burning engines contain benzene. Ideas to control your exposure include the following:

• Don’t spend a prolonged time near idling vehicles
• Don’t be in an enclosed space with running engines
• Stay upwind when pumping gas
• Avoid inhaling fumes from gasoline containers

Switching from gas-burning to electric outdoor tools like lawn mowers and weed trimmers would also help.

4. Improve Indoor Ventilation

Homes and workplaces should be well-ventilated. Some of the following products either contain benzene or might contain it:

• Natural gas
• Paints
• Glues
• Varnishes
• Solvents
• Cleaning products

Open windows, use fans, and select low-VOC (volatile organic compound) products to reduce your possible benzene exposure.

5. Reduce or Quit Smoking

Tobacco smoke is one of the heaviest sources of benzene exposure. It affects smokers and people inhaling secondhand smoke.

Since benzene is produced by both natural and man-made processes, it may be impossible to prevent all exposure. But cutting down on inhaling it is a good idea because it may be enough to keep you healthy.

Call Our Benzene Exposure Lawyers Today for a Free Consultation

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer or another severe illness after benzene exposure, you may be entitled to compensation. Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC attorney.