What Does Benzene Do That Makes it So Toxic to Those Exposed to It?

Benzene is a widely used chemical that all of us have probably been exposed to at some level. Like asbestos, it has many positive qualities that make it extremely useful. But also, like asbestos, it has a darker side that could cause many Americans to become severely ill. How does benzene cause this damage?

Benzene’s health effects have been extensively studied in laboratory animals and animals, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some of those impacts include the following:

1. Bone Marrow Damage

A primary target for benzene is hemopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow. They become many different kinds of blood cells, immune system cells, and tissues of the bone marrow, thymus, and spleen.

Benzene disrupts hematopoiesis, or blood cell production. Your body continuously makes new blood cells to replace old ones. It ensures a healthy supply of cells that provide oxygen to your tissues (red blood cells), fight infection (white blood cells), and clot your blood if you’re injured (platelets).

Benzene can cut the number of white blood cells circulating through your body and its organs. They encounter foreign or diseased cells and destroy them. With fewer white cells, your immune system becomes suppressed. Your body may be more likely to suffer infections, and malignant cells that should’ve been destroyed have a head start in creating cancerous tumors.

Benzene is also genotoxic. It has the ability to damage and alter the genetic material in bone marrow-related cells. This can cause bone marrow failure, myelodysplastic syndromes (a group of cancers resulting from immune cells that never fully mature and become healthy), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML, a bone marrow cancer).

This chemical also decreases cellularity (the density, distribution, organization, or composition of cells) of tissues in the spleen, thymus, and bone marrow.

2. Disrupted Development

Laboratory animal studies report the following:

• Decreased fetal weight
• Increased skeletal deformities
• Changes in blood
• Brain and nervous system effects
• Altered glucose homeostasis (how living organisms keeps a stable internal environment, despite changes in the external environment)

There hasn’t been enough research to prove this happens in humans.

3. Cancer

Studies show workplace exposure is associated with an increased risk of myelodysplastic syndromes and AML. Laboratory animals exposed to benzene developed tumors at multiple sites. Mice tended to develop lymphomas, or cancers of the lymph system, part of our immune system. A 2024 study showed evidence of a link between benzene and lung cancer.

The federal Department of Health and Human Services and the Environmental Protection Agency classify benzene as a substance known to cause cancer in people.

Conclusion

Benzene’s toxicity is due to its attack on the body’s fundamental processes. By disrupting blood cell production in the bone marrow, damaging genetic material, and suppressing the immune system, it leads to a cascade of severe health issues.

While its industrial applications have been widespread, the well-documented risks underscore the need for strong safety measures and ongoing research to further understand and reduce the dangers of benzene exposure.

To discuss your exposure, benzene lawsuit options, and how Satterley & Kelley, PLLC can help, call our office in Louisville at 502-589-5600 or toll-free at 855-385-9532. You may also complete our contact form for a free initial consultation.