Benzene

It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom. The molecular formula is C6 H 6. It is found in gasoline and other fuels and it is derived from coal and petroleum. It has been used in the manufacturing of plastics, detergents, and pesticides amongst other things. Research has shown that it is a carcinogen which is a cancer-causing agent. Many have become ill and died from Leukemia with years of exposure. Long-term exposure may affect bone marrow and blood production while short-term exposure to high levels of benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, and death. Benzene is a colorless and highly flammable liquid with a sweet smell. Benzene is a natural constituent of crude oil. Because it has a high octane number, it is an important component of gasoline. Is a functional group, as shown in the picture below. A colorless cyclic hydrocarbon obtained from coal and petroleum, used as a solvent in fuel and in chemical manufacture - and contained in cigarette smoke. It is a known carcinogen associated with leukaemia.
 * Benzene** is an organic chemical compound.

Google Image Benzene is used mainly as an intermediate to make other chemicals. Benzene is mostly used in production of ethylbenzene, cumene, and cyclohexane. These chemicals are then used in production of polymers, plastics, resins, adhesives, and nylon. Benzene itself can be used to make rubber types, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, explosives, and pesticides.

Common Uses for Benzene Benzene is used in the production of many materials and products including: styrene, some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, drugs, synthetic detergents, insecticides, fumigants, solvents, paint removers, and gasoline. Benzene is also a byproduct of the coking process during steel production. Worldwide leading producers of benzene include The United States, Europe, Japan, and Canada. In the US, benzene ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production volume. Source:[]

Exposure to Benzene
Workers in various industries that make or use benzene may be at risk for being exposed to high levels of this carcinogenic chemical. This includes the rubber industry, oil refineries, coke and chemical plants, shoe manufacturers, and gasoline-related industries. Downstream petroleum industry operations include the following categories: refinery, pipeline, marine, rail, bulk terminals and trucks, service stations, underground storage tanks, tank cleaning, and site characterization and remediation. Exposure of the general population to benzene mainly occurs through breathing, the major sources of benzene being tobacco smoke (about 50%) as well as automobile service stations, exhaust from motor vehicles and industrial emissions. Vapors from products that contain benzene, such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents, can also be a source of exposure. The average smoker (32 cigarettes per day) takes in about 1.8 milligrams (mg) of benzene per day. This amount is about 10 times the average daily intake of benzene by nonsmokers. Water and soil contamination are important pathways of concern for transmission of benzene contact. In the US alone, there are approximately 100,000 different sites that have benzene soil or groundwater contamination.

Exposure monitoring
Airborne exposure monitoring for benzene must be conducted in order to properly assess personal exposures and effectiveness of engineering controls. Initial exposure monitoring should be conducted by an industrial hygienist or person specifically trained and experienced in sampling techniques. Contact an AIHA Accredited Laboratory for advice on sampling methods. Each employer with a place of employment where occupational exposures to benzene occur shall monitor each of these workplaces and work operations to determine accurately the airborne concentrations of benzene to which employees may be exposed.Representative 8-hour TWA employee exposures need to be determined on the basis of one sample or samples representing the full shift exposure for each job classification in each work area. Unless air samples are taken frequently, the employer does not know the concentration and would not know how much of a protection factor is needed. In providing consultation on work safety during oil clean-up operations following the Deepwater Horizon accident, OSHA has worked with a number of other government agencies to protect Gulf cleanup workers. OSHA partnered with the NIOSH to issue "Interim Guidance for Protecting Deepwater Horizon Response Workers and Volunteers" and recommend measures that should be taken to protect workers from a variety of different health hazards that these workers face.OSHA conceded that it recognizes that most of its PELs are outdated and inadequate measures of worker safety. In characterizing worker exposure, OSHA instead relies on more up-to-date recommended protective limits set by organizations such as NIOSH, the ACGIH, and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), and not on the older, less protective PELS. Results of air monitoring are compared to the lowest known Occupational Exposure Limit for the listed contaminant for purposes of risk assessment and protective equipment recommendations.

//**History of Benzene:**// **Benzene was discovered in 1825 by Michael Faraday the english scientist. He was the one who isolated it from oil and gas and named it bicarburet of hydrogen. Eight years later, Eilhard Mitscherlich, the German chemist produced it by the distilling benzoic acid and lime. He name the compound benzin.** ** The English chemist Charles Mansfield, in 1844, was working for August Wilhelm von Hofmann, and isolated benzene from coal tar. In 1849, the first industrial scale production was in action due to the discovery of the coal tar method. ** //**Health Effects of Benzene: **// **Now days people have been know to be affected by Benzene, seeing as it is a toxin. You are at liberty to file a lawsuit if that is the case toward the irresponsible polluters. **



Benzene is used in laundry detergent.

Health Effects

Benzene increases the risk of cancer and other illnesses. Benzene is a notorious cause of bone marrow failure. Substantial quantities of epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory data link benzene to aplastic anemia, acute leukemia, and bone marrow abnormalities. The specific hematologic malignancies that benzene is associated with include: acute myeloid leukemia (AML), aplastic anemia, myleodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

The American Petroleum Institute (API) stated in 1948 that "it is generally considered that the only absolutely safe concentration for benzene is zero."The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) classifies benzene as a human carcinogen. Long-term exposure to excessive levels of benzene in the air causes leukemia, a potentially fatal cancer of the blood-forming organs, in susceptible individuals. In particular, Acute myeloid leukemia or acute non-lymphocytic leukaemia (AML & ANLL) is not disputed to be caused by benzene. IARC rated benzene as "known to be carcinogenic to humans" (Group 1)

What benzene is

 * Benzene is a chemical that is a colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature. It has a sweet odor and is highly flammable.
 * Benzene evaporates into the air very quickly. Its vapor is heavier than air and may sink into low-lying areas.
 * Benzene dissolves only slightly in water and will float on top of water.

Where benzene is found and how it is used

 * Benzene is formed from both natural processes and human activities.
 * Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
 * Benzene is widely used in the United States . It ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production volume.
 * Some industries use benzene to make other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, and nylon and synthetic fibers. Benzene is also used to make some types of lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.

How you could be exposed to benzene

 * Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions.
 * Indoor air generally contains levels of benzene higher than those in outdoor air. The benzene in indoor air comes from products that contain benzene such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
 * The air around hazardous waste sites or gas stations can contain higher levels of benzene than in other areas.
 * Benzene leaks from underground storage tanks or from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can contaminate well water.
 * People working in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels of it.
 * A major source of benzene exposure is tobacco smoke.

How benzene works

 * Benzene works by causing cells not to work correctly. For example, it can cause bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Also, it can damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies and causing the loss of white blood cells.
 * The seriousness of poisoning caused by benzene depends on the amount, route, and length of time of exposure, as well as the age and preexisting medical condition of the exposed person.