BENZENE FACTS

BENZENE

also known as benzol:

structure of benzene

• Benzene is a chemical that is colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature.  
• Benzene is highly flammable and has a sweet odor.
• Benzene evaporates very quickly into the air. In a comparison of air, benzene vapor is heavier and may sink into the low-lying area.
• Only slightly in water benzene dissolves and on top of the water will float.

FORMATION OF BENZENE AND HOW IT IS USED:

• Benzene formed from both human activities and natural processes.
• Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of gasoline, crude oil, and cigarette smoke.
• Benzene ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production volume.
• In the United, State benzene is widely used.
• Some industries use benzene to an Intermediate to make other chemicals such as- Resins, Nylon, Plastics, and Synthetic fibers.
• Benzene is also used to make some types of lubricants, like- Dyes, Rubbers, Pesticides, Drugs, and Detergents.

BENZENE WORKS:

It 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. Benzene can also 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.

HOW COULD BE EXPOSED TO BENZENE:

• Benzene leaks from underground storage tanks or from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can contaminate well water.
• Outer 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 in indoor air that comes from products that contain benzene such as- glue, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
• The air around hazardous waste sites or gas stations can contain higher levels of benzene than in other areas.
• People working in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels of it.
• Tobacco smoke is also a major source of benzene exposure.

SYMPTOMS OF EXPOSURE TO BENZENE:

• People who breathe in high levels of benzene may develop the following signs and symptoms within minutes to several hours-
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Headaches 
• Confusion
• Irregular or Rapid Heartbeat 
• Unconscious
• *Death(at a very high level)

• Eating foods or drinking beverages containing high levels of benzene can cause the following symptoms within minutes to several hours:
• Sleeping 
• Vomiting
• Dizziness 
• Irritation of the stomach
• Convulsions
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat

• Direct exposure of the eyes, skin, or lungs to benzene can cause irritation and tissue injury
• If a person vomits because of swallowing foods or beverages containing benzene, the vomit could be sucked into the lungs and cause breathing problems and coughing.
• But showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to benzene.

THE MAJOR EFFECT OF BENZENE FROM LONG-TERM EXPOSURE:

*(Long-term exposure means exposure of a year or more)

• Long term health effects of exposure to benzene are on the blood. Benzene can cause, a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia also causes harmful effects on the bone marrow. Benzene can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance of infection.
• For many months,  some women who breathed high levels of benzene had irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of ovaries.
• In Research, Animal studied have shown low birth weights, and bone marrow damage when pregnant animals breathed benzene.
• The Department of Health and Human Services(DHHS) has observed that benzene causes cancer in humans. Exposure of high levels of benzene for long-term in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.

EXPOSURE TO BENZENE IS DANGEROUS:

(what to do if we are exposed to Benzene)

• First of all, if the benzene was released into the air, get fresh air by leaving the area where the benzene was released.
• To reduce the possibility of death from exposure to benzene in the air.

*If the benzene release was outside, move away from the area where the benzene was released.

*If the benzene release was indoors, get out the building.

• If you think you may have been exposed to benzene, you should remove your clothing, rapidly wash your entire body with soap and water, and get medical care as soon as possible.

• REMOVING CLOTHING:

*Take off clothing quickly that may have benzene on it. Any clothing that has to be pulled over the head should be cut off the body instead of pulled over the head.

*Try to avoid touching any contaminated areas if you are helping other people removing their clothing and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.

• WASHING:

• Wash benzene from your skin with large amounts of soap and water, as quickly as possible. Washing with soap and water will help protect people from any chemicals on their bodies.
• If your vision is blurred or eyes are burning, rinse your eyes with plain water for 10-15 minutes. If you wear eyeglasses, wash them with water and soap. You can put your eyeglasses back on after your wash them. If you wear contacts, remove than after washing your hands and put them with the contaminated clothing. Do not put the contacts back in your eyes(even if they are not disposable contacts).

•  DISPOSING of CLOTHES:

• After you have washed, avoid touching contaminated areas of clothing and place your clothing inside a plastic bag. If you are not sure where the contaminated areas are, wear rubber gloves or put the clothing in bag using tongs, sticks, tool handles, or similar objects. All things that touch contaminated clothing should also be placed in the bag.
• Seal the bag, after that seal that bags inside another bag. In this way, your disposing of clothing will protect you and other people from any chemicals that might be on your clothes.

       BENZENE CAN BE FOUND:

       A natural process that produces Benzene-

• Forest fires 
• Volcanoes

      Benzene containing products:

• Glues 
• Paints 
• Thinners
• Inks
• Rubbers
• Lacquer, paint, and varnish removers
• Industrial solvents 
• Furniture wax
• Detergents
• Gasoline and other fuels
• Industrial cleaning and degreasing formulations

      BENZENE ACTIVITIES:

• Burning oil and coal
• Dry cleaning 
• Emissions motor vehicle exhaust
• Painting and lithography 
• Chemicals making 

    -Plastics 

    -Resins 

    -Nylon and synthetic fibers

• Making the type of:
• Rubbers 
• Lubricants
• Dyes 
• Detergents
• Pharmaceutical drugs 
• Agricultural chemicals(pesticides)

INDUSTRIES USING BENZENE:

• Petroleum refining 
• Coke and coal chemical manufacturing
• Shoe manufacturing 
• Gasoline storage, retail operation, and shipment

PEOPLE WHO MAY BE EXPOSED TO BENZENE:

• Printers
• Rubber workers
• Steelworkers
• Shoemakers
• Laboratory technicians
• Gasoline service station employees

                                                                -AKSHITA SRIVASTAVA