Benzene and Occupational Risks

Although benzene has been banned from being used as a solvent in industries for about 20 years, there is still a risk that you could be exposed to it in the workplace. Benzene is a sweet smelling, colorless chemical that has been linked to leukemia. Those working in the petroleum industry are still at risk because benzene is still used in drilling for oil and gas. It is possible for workers to inhale the benzene or it may get absorbed into their skin through their clothes, especially their hands. When a worker is exposed to this chemical in high doses or for a long period of time, it could result in both acute and chronic health effects and may even be deadly.

Benzene has been banned from most workplaces because it has been identified as a Class A carcinogen – a cancer causing agent. Even minimal exposure to this chemical can cause cancer and it may not happen until years after you are no longer working in the same occupation. Some of the occupations where there is an increased risk of exposure to benzene include:

Painters
Workers in an oil refinery
Workers in chemical labs
Those who work in the rubber industry
Leather manufacturers
Those who work in pulp and paper factories

In addition to leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease is another disease that has been linked to exposure to benzene. In this form of cancer, the cells in the lymph nodes start to develop uncontrollably and start to destroy the normal cells. A cancerous tumor often develops in the neck or it could be contained within the lymph nodes. This prevents the lymph nodes from doing their job of protecting the body from infections and diseases, leaving it susceptible to all kinds of viruses and bacteria.

It is important to be able to recognize the signs of benzene exposure when you work in an environment where this is a possibility. These include:

Dizziness
Headache
Increased heart rate
Excessive tiredness
Inability to exercise as normal

In the case of Hodgkin’s disease, the symptoms are somewhat different. They include weight loss and excessive sweating.

When Benzene comes in contact with the skin, it causes the skin to become red and blisters to form. If you get it in your eyes, it will cause irritation and although no known eye injuries have resulted from this exposure, it does give the chemical a way to get into your system. The level of the exposure to benzene and the time frame of the exposure will help to determine the long-term health effects it has on your body. Long-term effects are those that last for one year or longer.

The Environmental Protection Agency has put mechanisms in place to protect workers in such working conditions to minimize their risk of being exposed to benzene. There are strict regulations that both employers and employees have to abide by in order to reduce the risk where the solvents have to be used. If you feel that your workplace is at risk, there are tests that can determine the amount of benzene that is present. In most of these high-risk occupations, these tests are carried out on a regular basis to ensure the safety of the worker.

If you or a loved one are suffering from one of the conditions linked to benzene exposure and you are working or have worked in a high risk environment, you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. The personal injury lawyers that deal in these cases have a wealth of experience handling benzene exposure cases and will be able to give you the advice and help you to receive the maximum amount of compensation you deserve.

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