Benzene Exposure
Benzene is an organic chemical compound that can help create other chemicals and plastic products. Benzene is clear and colorless and is also referred to as benzol or PhH. It is extremely flammable in liquid form and has a very distinct smell.
Benzene's molecular formula is C6H6. Six carbon atoms and six hydrogen atoms are found in its composition. It is bound aromatically (sixteen electrons bind the six carbons), giving it solid stability in the form of a ring.
Benzene Uses
Before people knew of benzene toxicity, it was used as an industrial solvent until safer alternatives were discovered.
Preceding its strict regulation, benzene was used as a fuel additive because it increases octane level and reduces engine knocking. While benzene usage in gasoline has become more popular in other countries, health warnings and legal restrictions have kept use to a minimum in the United States.
As mentioned, benzene is mostly used to make other chemicals like styrene, phenol and cyclohexane these days.
Benzene and its derivatives can also be found in some of the following products:
- Pesticides
- Detergents
- Dyes
- Lubricants
- Rubber
- Drugs
- Explosives
Benzene Health Effects and Benzene Exposure
A number of serious health problems have been associated with benzene exposure. Of course, how long a person has been exposed to benzene can be the difference between life and death.
Inhaling benzene can induce dizziness, tachycardia, headaches, confusion, tremors, unconsciousness, and - if prolonged - death. Ingesting chemicals with benzene can lead to stomach irritation, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, tachycardia and death.
Blood damage is the most dangerous health effect of exposure to benzene.
The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) classifies benzene as a human carcinogen. Extended exposure to benzene can also foster the development of leukemia. There is also proof that benzene exposure reduces red blood cells. This is called anemia.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Benzene
Acute myeloid leukemia (or acute myelogenous leukemia - AML), a type of cancer that affects the body's white blood cells, can develop as a result of long-term exposure to benzene and benzene-laden materials. People with AML have abnormal blood cell production in their bone marrow, which makes them more prone to infection and immune system failure.
AML patients often suffer from fatigue, bleeding and infection. Acute myeloid leukemia is treatable, with as many as 75% of adult victims enjoying complete remission. Induction chemotherapy and post-remission chemotherapy are the most common and effective treatment methods that achieve complete remission.