February 6, 2025
Many manufacturing processes require toxic chemicals. Workers in those industries are entitled to accurate information about the risks associated, proper protective gear, and governmental regulations that ensure they are protected.
However, ongoing disputes between industry giants and the government have left benzene-exposed workers without adequate protection — and recent reports show that businesses knew exactly how they were putting employees at risk.
The History of Benzene
Benzene was discovered in 1825 when English chemist Michael Faraday stumbled upon the chemical as a byproduct of gas production. Isolated from coal tar in 1845, it found its way into industrial applications by 1849. But benzene’s dark side became clear as its toxicity became evident in the late 19th century, manifesting in health ailments among workers, including aplastic anemia and hemorrhaging in Swedish and French workers. In the early 20th century, the first case of leukemia related to benzene exposure was reported in scientific literature.
More recently, researchers have studied links between benzene and birth defects, such as low birth weight, cleft palates, and other developmental abnormalities.
What Industry Knew about the Dangers of Benzene
As early as 1948, the petroleum industry was aware of the risks to their workers. A report prepared for the American Petroleum Institute (API) concluded “the only absolutely safe concentration for benzene is zero.” Yet the petroleum industry fought attempts at government regulation. For example, when OSHA proposed in 1977 to lower the exposure limits from 10 parts per million (ppm) to 1 ppm, the API acted against it so quickly that the change didn’t take effect until a decade later.
The API took this action even though members of the organization had already noted the effects of benzene exposure on their workers. Shell, for example, found that workers exposed to benzene had higher incidences of leukemia, lymphoma and blood disorders. However, when asked by OSHA, the company revealed only the leukemia data, concluding that the incidence of leukemia was only slightly elevated. In 1984, Shell was accused of withholding data on blood disorders among employees. After repeatedly claiming such data didn’t exist, the company eventually provided it. These two examples show the ongoing work by companies that use benzene to avoid protecting workers at the risk of higher production costs.
How You Can Protect Yourself
If you or a family member works in an industry where you might be exposed to benzene or other toxic chemicals, you may need to ask for personal protective equipment and to ensure that engineering controls and ventilation are appropriate to keep your exposure at or below the current legal limit of 1 ppm over an eight-hour workday. It is also a good idea to remove any protective gear and change clothing before entering your vehicle and returning home to limit the potential for contaminated clothing to expose your family. Finally, make sure you get regular checkups so you can find any potential disease caused by exposure to benzene. Early detection can help you manage your health more effectively, and documentation of any health effects can be important to help your fellow co-workers and provide any legal information you may need in the future.
FAQ
What is benzene?
Benzene is a colorless, highly flammable liquid with a slightly sweet scent. It evaporates quickly into the air, making it easily inhaled. It typically doesn’t dissolve quickly in water or other liquids.
Where does it come from?
Benzene occurs naturally in coal, petroleum products, and cigarette smoke. It can be released into the atmosphere when volcanoes erupt or when a forest fire breaks out.
Benzene is also used in various industries, including petroleum and coal processing, printing, and the making of steel, plastics, and rubber.
Why is it dangerous?
Prolonged exposure to benzene, even at low levels, has been linked to serious health issues, including leukemia, other blood disorders, and various cancers. Benzene is classified as a carcinogen by several health organizations, including the EPA and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
What health problems can it cause?
Benzene can damage the bone marrow, leading to decreased production of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which can result in anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Benzene exposure has also been associated with immune system suppression, birth defects, and central nervous system effects. It is also known to cause cancers such as leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and multiple myeloma.
Short-term exposure can cause dizziness, nausea and vomiting, convulsions, or even death.
How are workers exposed to benzene?
Benzene is widely used in multiple industries, including petroleum, steel, plastics, and synthetic fibers. It is also used in making some lubricants, dyes, drugs, and pesticides. The CDC reports that it is in the top 20 chemicals produced by volume.
Workers can be exposed to benzene in industrial settings where benzene is used or produced. They may inhale benzene vapors released during the handling, processing, or transportation of benzene-containing products or during industrial processes such as petroleum refining, chemical manufacturing, and rubber production. Gas station attendants may also inhale benzene from the gasoline fumes. Benzene may be absorbed through the skin or ingested if workers come into direct contact with benzene-containing liquids or contaminated surfaces.
Is the general public at risk because of benzene?
Because benzene may also be released into the air by the factories that use benzene, those who live near them may be exposed at cancer-causing levels over long periods of time. The EPA is in charge of ensuring that the general public remains safe from exposure to toxic chemicals, so they can provide data about exposure to benzene and other hazards in your area.
How We Help Victims of Benzene Exposure
Seek justice with the help of our experienced attorneys. Our Dallas, Texas, benzene law firm has battled corporate giants on behalf of individuals like you for 20 years, aggressively fighting to hold them responsible for dangerous chemicals and the personal injuries and cancers they cause. If you have suffered a catastrophic injury caused by dangerous products, we can help.
Our Results
Historic settlement for over 1,300 survivors of clergy and adult abuse within the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, marking a pivotal moment for justice.
A Philadelphia jury awarded a record verdict against ExxonMobil for failing to warn about cancer risks due to benzene in its petroleum products.
Private equity firm and co-defendants agree to pay $25M in Medicaid fraud case alleging mental health services provided by unqualified providers.
That’s the first question everyone asks. The truth is it’s impossible to know. But we can tell you this. Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel has what it takes to fight against big corporate interests and win.
