Benzene Lawyer

Benzene is a colorless, flammable, sweet-smelling liquid. It evaporates quickly when exposed to air, and benzene is both a man-made chemical from the production of synthetic fibers, fabrications of rubbers, pesticides, medications, and more, and a naturally occurring chemical from volcanic eruptions, wildfires, and crude oil. A major source of benzene exposure is tobacco smoke and exhaust from motor vehicles.

Outdoor air may contain low levels of benzene due to gas stations, tobacco smoke, vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions. About 50% of the U.S.’s population’s exposure to benzene comes from smoking tobacco or exposure to secondhand smoke.

Benzene is recognized as a carcinogen in humans that causes cells to not work correctly. For example, it can damage the immune system by changing levels of antibodies in the blood and causing the loss of white blood cells.

Is Benzene in Sunscreen?

In early 2021, Valisure conducted tests on 294 unique batches of sunscreen and after-sun care products from 69 different companies and found that 27% of the samples contained benzene. Benzene’s recommended exposure limit is .1 parts per million (ppm), making the findings of 2 ppm or higher concerning.

It is important to note that benzene isn’t a normal ingredient in sunscreens, rather these products were contaminated with benzene. In addition to publishing their findings, because benzene is slightly water-soluble, Valisure has also published how to safely and responsibly dispose of benzene-contaminated sun care products.

Several studies have shown that chemicals in sunscreen can enter the bloodstream after they are applied to the skin.

Immediate signs of Benzene exposure

If you’ve breathed in high levels of benzene, you may experience these symptoms within a few minutes to hours after exposure:

Drowsiness
Dizziness
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Headaches
Tremors
Confusion
Unconsciousness
Death at very high levels

If you eat foods or drink beverages with high levels of benzene, you may experience these symptoms within a few minutes to hours after exposure:

Vomiting
Stomach irritation
Dizziness
Sleepiness
Convulsions
Rapid or irregular heartbeat
Death at very high levels

Direct exposure to the skin, eyes, or lungs can cause tissue irritation or injury.

Long-term Health Effects of Benzene

Benzene has been determined to cause cancer in humans. Long-term exposure to high levels can cause leukemia and other cancers and conditions such as Non-Hodgkins lymphoma, aplastic anemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and chronic myelogenous leukemia. Some people have reported irregular menstruation and a decrease in the size of their ovaries. It is not yet known if benzene exposure affects developing fetuses, or how sperm is affected.

The CDC determines long-term exposure to benzene as a year or longer, with the major effect of long-term benzene exposure to be on the blood. Benzene can cause a decrease in red blood cells causing anemia, harmful effects on bone marrow and immune system, and can cause excessive bleeding.

Contact a Benzene Lawyer Today

Our benzene lawyers can help if you or someone you care about was harmed by exposure to benzene. Contact Drug Lawsuit Source today for your free case review.