Benzene Exposure
It has been known for more than 50 years that benzene exposure causes deadly illnesses such as Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), Aplastic Anemia, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS) and Pancytopenia. To help you understand how and when you may have been exposed to benzene and related chemicals, we’ve provided you with these benzene facts:
What is Benzene?
Benzene is a colorless, sweet smelling liquid that has been widely used in the manufacturing of medicinal chemicals, shoes, dyes, detergents, explosives, linoleum, oil cloth, and artificial leather. It is also used as a solvent for waxes, fats, nylons, dyes, lubricants, detergents, pesticides, resins, paints, plastics, and fast drying inks as well as an anti-knock agent in unleaded gasoline.
Benzene is also known by these brand names:
- Benzol
- Benzole
- Coal Naphtha
- Cyclohexatriene
- Phene
- Phenyl hydride
- Pyrobenzol
Benzene Exposure Companies
Many companies continued to expose their employees to benzene even after they knew benzene exposure could be deadly. If you have worked in or lived near any of these types of companies, you may have been experienced a high level of benzene exposure:
- Petrochemical Corporations
- Refineries
- Solvent Companies
- Auto Repair Shops
- Pesticide Manufacturers
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- Chemical Plants
- Paper Mills
- Gasoline Companies
- Plastic Manufacturers
- Pesticide Distributors
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Benzene in the Environment
It has been shown in court that a number of companies that manufactured or used benzene products dumped them on nearby land or in local rivers, lakes or creeks. Benzene can pass into the air from water or soil and be inhaled or rained or snowed back down to another location. It can also seep into local drinking water supplies. Many people have experienced benzene exposure from living near a company that unsafely disposed of benzene.
Because benzene is so widely used in manufacturing, most people are exposed to it at some level on a regular basis. It is unknown how much benzene exposure leads to disease.
If you or a loved one is a victim of disease from benzene exposure, contact a SEGLaw benzene lawyer for a free consultation today.