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Unacceptable Level of Benzene

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), benzene is typically one of the 20 most produced chemicals annually. It has no color but emits a sweet odor and is extremely flammable. You can find benzene in everything from cigarettes and gasoline to plastics. Benzene proves highly toxic and lethal to humans, however, when at an unacceptable level.

  1. Concentrations

    • The maximum concentration of benzene that is allowed depends on the type of environment or product in which it is found. According to the Find Law website, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration limits benzene in potable water to no more than 5 parts per 1 billion parts of water, but no regulation exists for food. Also, a work environment may not contain more than 1 part per 1 million during an eight-hour workday.

    Sources

    • Benzene can come from natural and synthetic sources, and a lot of the benzene in our air comes from tobacco smoke, gasoline and products such as furniture wax, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Other important man-made sources of benzene are glues and detergents. Major natural sources of benzene include volcano eruptions and forest fires. People who work at benzene-producing plants are the most at risk for being in a room with unacceptable levels of benzene.

    Effects

    • Short-term symptoms of exposure to unacceptable levels of benzene in the air include drowsiness, fatigue and a racing or irregular heartbeat. At extreme levels, benzene also may cause death. Consuming high levels of benzene can cause vomiting, restlessness, convulsions and death. Exposure to unacceptable levels of benzene for more than one year can lead to cancer and anemia, states the CDC.

    Misconceptions

    • Snopes.com reports that a popular chain email claims that benzene can concentrate in cars to levels several times that of the acceptable limit, especially during hot months. Dashboards and car seats emit benzene, and, thus, people should air out their car instead of using its air conditioner when entering it. While riding in a vehicle increases exposure to benzene, the exposure is mostly from gasoline and likely not from the vehicle's air conditioner.

    Prevention

    • To prevent exposure to unacceptable levels of benzene, the ATSDR recommends not smoking indoors and avoiding contact with gasoline whenever possible. For people working around benzene, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration suggests proper ventilation and prevention equipment such as goggles and hoods. If ventilation is not adequate or possible, a personal respirator should be used.

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