BENZENE AND LEUKEMIA

Benzene is one of the 20 most widely used chemicals in the United States. It is used to make other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, and synthetic fibers. It is also used to make photographic chemicals, rubber, dyes, lubricants, explosives, adhesives, paints, coatings, detergents, drugs and pesticides. What is less known for most people is that there is a link between benzene and leukemia, a deadly form of cancer.

Benzene is a recognized carcinogen that poses severe health risks to workers and others who are exposed to it. There is also a scientifically-proven link between benzene and leukemia; in fact benzene is a recognized cause of leukemia, and other diseases of the blood and blood-forming systems, including multiple myeloma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In addition, benzene properties are such that exposure can weaken the immune system causing a greater susceptibility to infection and illness.

The toxic properties of benzene have been documented for well over 100 years. The first reports of fatal blood disorder caused by benzene exposure appeared in the scientific literature as early as the 1890s. By 1948, the American Petroleum Institute advised that there was no safe level of benzene exposure. By the early 1970s, epidemiological evidence confirmed that exposure to benzene was a cause of acute myelogenous leukemia. Continuing scientific studies have demonstrated that there is a blood disease and leukemia risk associated with low-level benzene exposure, even when the exposure is for a relatively short duration.

Today, despite the overwhelming evidence of the harmful properties of benzene, (leukemia risks and toxicity), more than 200,000 men and women are exposed to benzene at their jobs. Breathing the vapors of benzene is the primary route of exposure. Skin contact with benzene can also result in dangerous exposures. The chemical benzene has properties that cause the chemical to be rapidly distributed through the body where it accumulates in fatty tissue, bone marrow, central nervous system, liver, spleen and blood. Even the slightest exposure to benzene can cause changes in the blood ranging from a decrease in platelet count to severe blood disorders, such as aplastic anemia, a rapidly fatal disease.

Risk of Leukemia Associated with Occupational Exposure to Benzene

You may be exposed to dangerous levels of benzene if you work at a facility that makes or uses benzene, such as petroleum refineries, pharmaceutical plants, petrochemical manufacturing facilities, rubber tire manufacturing facilities, or gas stations. You may also be at risk of leukemia from benzene exposure if you work as a firefighter, steel worker, printer, painter, shoemaker, laboratory technician or wood finisher. Workers in these and other occupations may be at increased risk for leukemia and other blood cancers due to exposure to benzene. (See, e.g., Glass, et al. (2003) Lympho-haematopoietic Cancer and Exposure to Benzene in the Australian Petroleum Industry. Monash University and Deakin University; Yin, et al. (1996) A cohort study of cancer among benzene-exposed workers in China: Overall results. AM J Indust Med, 29, 227-235.)

Products that Contain Benzene Properties and the Risk of Leukemia

In addition, products that contain petroleum-based ingredients likely contain benzene properties as well. Therefore, you may be exposed to benzene if you work with or use glues, gasoline, paints, wood finishing products, furniture wax, lubricants, detergent and petroleum-based solvents such as xylene, toluene and mineral spirits.

A person who was exposed to benzene and develops leukemia or other diseases of the blood and blood-forming systems may have the right to monetary compensation.

For more information on benzene and leukemia call Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or complete the email form.