Benzene Illness: Legal Information and FAQ

Benzene is found in various products, such as glue, paint, and gasoline. Experts have linked it to cancer, leukemia, and other health issues. If you come into contact with benzene in high doses or over a long period, you can become seriously ill. Some people have died from extended exposure to this chemical.

This section discusses some of the health effects and illnesses caused by exposure to benzene. It also describes your legal options if you develop an illness after coming in contact with this chemical. An attorney near you can also answer your questions and provide legal advice tailored to your situation.

This page answers the following frequently asked questions (FAQ):

• Can you smell benzene?
• What products contain benzene?
• How are people exposed to benzene?
• What are the health effects of benzene inhalation?
• Is sodium benzoate the same as benzene?
• What injuries and illnesses can benzene cause?
• How long until benzene exposure causes cancer?
• Can I sue for exposure that happened a long time ago?
• How do I prove causation in a benzene product liability claim?
• Are there federal regulations on benzene?
• Can medical tests detect benzene exposure?
• How can I protect myself against benzene exposure?
• Should I get legal help for a benzene exposure claim?

Can you smell benzene?

Benzene is a mostly colorless liquid. Sometimes, it is light yellow. Benzene is easy to detect. It has a sweet odor, and it’s highly flammable. It evaporates quickly, so it can be hard to notice when you come into contact with it.

You will likely smell benzene at a gas station or near factories. You may also smell it if you pass a dump or hazardous waste site.

What products contain benzene?

Many products contain benzene. It’s one of the top 20 chemicals used in American manufacturing. This is one of the reasons you can find it in groundwater and soil.

Companies that use benzene in their products store it as hazardous waste. However, it can leak out of containers and contaminate the environment. It can also cause air pollutants.

According to the CDC, common products that are sources of benzene exposure include:

• Plastics
• Glue
• Gasoline
• Solvents
• Cigarettes and tobacco smoke
• Paint
• Furniture wax and resins
• Lighter fluid
• Nylon
• Detergent
• Pesticides
• Dyes
• Certain Drugs

Contractors also use benzene in asphalt. If you have a new driveway installed, there’s a good chance the asphalt will contain benzene. If so, you must take precautions to keep you and your family safe.

How are people exposed to benzene?

Benzene can come from both natural processes and human activities.

You don’t have to work near industrial emissions or hydrocarbons to become sick. Many people come into contact with benzene through motor vehicle exhaust and tobacco smoke. Smelling benzene at gas stations is common because crude oil has benzene.

Other people come into contact with benzene from forest fires. If you work as a firefighter or live near fire zones, you may expose yourself to high levels of benzene.

Indoor air may contain even higher levels due to products such as glues, lubricants, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.

Additionally, benzene leaks from underground storage tanks or hazardous waste sites may contaminate well water.

What are the health effects of benzene inhalation?

The most likely method of exposure to benzene is inhalation. Inhalation occurs when you encounter it in the air, such as near a hazardous waste site or gas station.

When you inhale benzene, you may notice the following symptoms:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat
• Headaches
• Tremors
• Confusion
• Unconsciousness
• Death (if exposed to very high levels)

You probably won’t get sick from short-term exposure. However, if you think you are ill from benzene, seek medical attention immediately. Once this chemical enters your system, it attacks your bone marrow, white blood cells, and red blood cells, causing anemia and leukemia.

Benzene is also an eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritant. If you’re concerned about the content of your food and drinks, consult the National Institute of Health’s national toxicology program. Their fact sheet describes exposure levels and how benzene can affect your health.

Is sodium benzoate the same as benzene?

Technically, sodium benzoate is not the same as benzene. Sodium benzoate is a very common preservative that can turn into benzene. Some users worry that similar-sounding ingredients mean they have to avoid both altogether. However, you should be safe as long as you don’t expose yourself to high levels of benzene.

Soft drinks and other beverages may contain benzoate salts (such as sodium or potassium). These salts act as preservatives that inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeasts, and molds.

What injuries and illnesses can benzene cause?

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has determined benzene is a human carcinogen, posing a cancer risk. Specifically, benzene exposure is known to cause leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have confirmed this.

According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), long-term exposure to benzene can also cause the following:

• Reduction in ovaries
• Anemia
• Damage to the immune system
• Bone marrow damage
• Excessive bleeding
• Damage to red blood cells

Even low levels of benzene can make you sick. If you detect its odor or discover its presence, get fresh air immediately. Protect yourself from the harmful effects of this chemical.

How long until benzene exposure causes cancer?

Any exposure to benzene can make you sick. However, according to the American Cancer Society, in most cases, people develop cancer after at least a year of exposure. This doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to fall ill. But people who come into contact with benzene for years are at a greater risk of developing cancer, anemia, and other illnesses.

Can I sue for exposure that happened a long time ago?

Many workers who worked with or near benzene for years are still filing lawsuits today. Whether you can still sue depends on your state’s statute of limitations. Every state has rules on how long you have to file a legal claim. The clock starts when you learn (or should’ve learned) that benzene exposure caused your illness.

How do I prove causation in a benzene product liability claim?

To prevail in your benzene exposure lawsuit, you must prove the following:

• First, your personal injury lawyer must show that you were exposed to benzene.

• Second, you must submit proof that you’re sick. Most attorneys use your medical records for proof.

• Finally, you need to prove that it was benzene exposure that caused your particular illness.

Your attorney must demonstrate that another party is responsible for that exposure. For example, if your child drank the same beverage every day for two years and developed cancer, you may have a claim against the soft drink company. However, it will be difficult to prove that their product directly caused your child’s illness.

Medical tests can detect high levels of benzene in your system. There is also ample evidence that benzene poses a risk to both public health and environmental health. Your attorney can draw on this evidence and rely on expert witnesses to help prove your case.

Many plaintiffs recover damages by joining a class action lawsuit. It isn’t easy to pursue individual cases. That doesn’t mean you can’t sue the responsible parties. It just means that many benzene lawsuits involve numerous plaintiffs.

Are there federal regulations on benzene?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has confirmed that benzene is a carcinogen for humans. Therefore, it has set a maximum contaminant level of benzene in drinking water at five parts benzene per billion parts of water (5 ppb).

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has also implemented special regulations regarding benzene. OSHA has set limits of 1 part benzene per million parts of workspace air (1 ppm) for eight-hour shifts and 40-hour work weeks.

Can medical tests detect benzene exposure?

You can detect benzene’s presence in the human body by measuring breath, blood, and urine levels. Undergo these tests shortly after exposure to benzene.

Urine tests may not be a reliable indicator of benzene exposure since the breakdown products may have come from other sources. If you notice that you’re experiencing benzene exposure symptoms, contact a medical professional immediately.

The symptoms of benzene exposure include the following:

• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Unconsciousness
• Convulsion
• Irregular or fast heartbeat
• Confusion
• Tremors

Having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve been exposed to benzene. Many things can cause these problems. This is why you need to get tested to ensure that you haven’t ingested or come into contact with dangerous levels of benzene.

How can I protect myself against benzene exposure?

OSHA recommends controlling exposure by limiting evaporation and preventing spills and splashes. If you work in an industry that makes or uses benzene, it’s prudent to use hoods, canopies, proper ventilation systems, and personal protective equipment.

Otherwise, limit contact with gasoline and cigarette smoke. Families are encouraged not to smoke in their houses, enclosed environments, or near children.

Should I get legal help for a benzene exposure claim?

If you or a loved one has experienced symptoms or developed a medical condition related to benzene exposure, first seek immediate medical attention.

If you have used products containing benzene that didn’t have adequate warnings, or if you’re concerned you encountered high levels of benzene at your place of work, a lawyer can explain your options and possible legal remedies for your injuries.

FindLaw’s directory of toxic torts attorneys can get you started. Select your state or city to review contact and ratings information for local experts. Your search results will also link you to additional details about the attorneys’ experience with benzene litigation.