Benzene Exposure

Benzene may be all around you at any time — it forms both naturally in the environment and through human activities. You might find it, for example, in the smoke from a forest fire or a cigarette. Benzene is known to cause cancer in humans, according to three different U.S. and international agencies.

Benzene ranks in the top 20 most widely produced chemicals in America and is frequently used to make other chemicals. It’s used in the manufacture of plastics, rubber, synthetic fibers, detergents, medicines and pesticides.

It also occurs naturally in crude oil and gasoline and may even form in food and beverages as a result of chemical reactions between the ingredients or packaging.

In addition to several types of cancer, benzene exposure can cause other immediate or long-term health issues.

You’re most likely to be exposed to benzene around gas stations or through cigarette smoke. You may also be exposed in your home or workplace because benzene is used in paints, furniture wax and other common household items. But if you work in an industry or profession that uses benzene, you are likely to face much greater exposure.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration sets airborne benzene exposure limits for workplaces. OSHA set the daily maximum safe level at 1 parts-per-million, or 1 ppm. That means 1 part benzene for every 1 million parts of air over the course of an 8-hour day. The short term exposure limit is 5 ppm for any 15-minute period.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sets the maximum benzene level in drinking water at 5 ppm.

Signs and symptoms of excessive benzene exposure — through either breathing it in or swallowing food and beverages containing it — can differ from one another. But symptoms are likely to show up within a few minutes to several hours after it happens, regardless of how you were exposed.

Getting benzene in your eyes or on your skin can cause severe irritation. High levels of benzene, whether breathed in or swallowed, can also kill you.

Consumers may have also been exposed to benzene in recalled Aveeno and Neutrogena aerosol sunscreen products made by Johnson & Johnson.

Johnson & Johnson issued a recall in July 2021 after lab testing found benzene in some of its aerosol sunscreens, including: Aveeno Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen, Neutrogena Beach Defense aerosol sunscreen, Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen, Neutrogena Invisible Daily defense aerosol sunscreen and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer aerosol sunscreen.

People who used the recalled sunscreens and later received a cancer diagnosis are filing sunscreen lawsuits against J&J.

In December 2021, Procter & Gamble issued a dry shampoo recall after certain products tested positive for benzene. The recall included popular brands such as: Waterl<ss, Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences, Hair Food and Old Spice.

According to P&G, it found “unexpected levels” of benzene in the propellant used to spray the product. Though the company advised consumers to stop using the recalled products immediately, it said the levels of benzene in recalled products aren’t expected to cause health problems.

Long-term exposure of a year or more can cause blood disorders ranging from anemia to leukemia or other cancers. This is true even if the amount you are exposed to is minor.

Health and pollution regulators around the world have determined that benzene is carcinogenic — it is known to cause cancer or helps cancer grow. These agencies rely on scientific research based on laboratory, animal and human studies.

A 2010 analysis in the journal Environmental Health concluded that “exposure to benzene at work increases the risk of leukemia.” Researchers analyzed 15 studies and said workers routinely exposed to benzene on the job had a 40 percent higher risk of developing leukemia than people who didn’t work around the chemical.

They also found that the more exposure a worker experienced, the higher the risk.

A 2004 study in the Annals of Work Exposures and Health found that even exposure levels considered safe can increase a worker’s risk in the long term. Scientists with the U.S. National Cancer Institute studied Chinese shoe factory workers exposed to glues containing benzene. They compared them to clothing factory workers who were not exposed to the chemical.

After 16 months, they found that the shoe factory workers had fewer white blood cells than the clothing workers. The types of missing white cells were an indication of bone marrow disorders, and a warning sign for possible leukemia.

Many people who believe they developed cancer as the result of benzene exposure in their workplace have filed Benzene lawsuits, with some receiving settlements and verdicts worth millions of dollars.

People living or working at U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina from 1953 through 1987 were potentially exposed to benzene-contaminated drinking water. The water also contained industrial solvents and other chemicals.

Benzene exposure at Camp Lejeune may cause cancer, including myelodysplastic syndromes, multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemias. Other health conditions associated with benzene exposure include aplastic anemia and miscarriage.

An individual’s risk of developing cancer or another condition from contaminated Camp Lejeune water depends on the duration and intensity of exposure and the person’s general health.

There are several ways to reduce your exposure to benzene. Avoiding cigarette smoke is one of the most effective ways, as cigarettes are a major source of benzene. If you’re a smoker, quitting can reduce your exposure.

Using gas stations with vapor recovery systems can protect you from exposure. Avoid getting gasoline on your skin or clothes. And don’t leave your car idling — exhaust fumes contain the chemical.

If you work around benzene, use personal protective equipment such as protective clothing and masks. Or talk to your employer about switching to non-benzene solvents or other chemicals if possible. Try to limit your exposure to fumes that contain the chemical as well.

In the event of a benzene release or spill, the best thing to do is get away from it or remove it from your skin and clothes as quickly as possible.

If it’s released into the air, move to fresh air immediately if you can. But it may be better to stay where you are and “shelter in place” if the release has been contained.

If you think you’ve been exposed, you should remove your clothes and wash your entire body with soap and water. Don’t pull contaminated clothes over your head — the benzene may get in your eyes. Cut the clothes off instead.

If you get benzene in your eyes, rinse them for 10 to 15 minutes with water. Remove contact lenses and put them with the contaminated clothes. You should never wear the contacts again.

Put the contaminated clothes into a plastic bag and seal it. Then put that bag in another plastic bag and seal the second one. Leave them for first responders or hazardous materials crews to pick them up and dispose of them.

There are lab tests that can measure benzene levels in your blood, breath or urine. But they can only detect a recent exposure and cannot predict future health effects.

Sudden exposure to high levels of benzene requires a hospital treatment. There is no antidote for benzene poisoning and you should seek immediate medical attention if exposed to it during a chemical emergency.

You should talk to your doctor if you think you’ve experienced long-term benzene exposure.