Benzene Description/Chemical Forms: Sources/Routes of Exposure: Health Effects:

Benzene is a highly flammable aromatic Sources: Both natural and Acute (short-term exposure): high level hydrocarbon that is usually colorless anthropogenic in origin, commonly concentrations can cause headaches, and has a rather sweet odor. This found in water, soil, and air dizziness, and unconsciousness, effects substance has a short half-life and will will subside once source of exposure is decompose a few days after being Synthetic: First manufactured in the halted or patient has access to fresh air released into the environment. 1800s, now mostly derived from petroleum and used as a solvent-in Chronic (long-term exposure): aplastic rubber production, lubricants, dyes anemia, which is characterized by bone marrow hypoplasia, peripheral blood Natural: volcanic emissions, forest pancytopenia, and reticulocytopenia. fires, byproduct of cigarette smoke Granulocytosis is the specific type of leukemia caused by benzene Main Route of Exposure: compounds

Inhalation: automobile exhaust and industrial emissions (20%), cigarette smoke-either first or secondhand (50%), although smokers take in 10x’s more Benzene than non-smokers Benzene Diagnosis/Treatment Options: Prevention Strategies: Links for Additional Information: A variety of tests are available to detect Most people are exposed to small More information concerning benzene recent exposures of Benzene. Blood amounts of Benzene each day, yet more exposure and health effects can be and breath measurements are significant exposure can result in found at the following sites: generally most effective as close to the adverse health outcomes. http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/PHS/PHS.asp exposure as possible and with high ?id=37&tid=14 concentrations, due to the rapid Recommendations: dissipation of the chemical from the  Advise patients to avoid tobacco http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancerca body. smoke or steer them towards uses/othercarcinogens/intheworkplace/ cessation programs if they are benzene Metabolites, including muconic acid active users and phenol can be detected in urine http://www.epa.gov/ttnatw01/hlthef/b after recent exposures but do not  Encourage parents to keep their enzene.html provide indication of adverse health children away from nearby effects. Examination of bone marrow is hazardous waste sites or fuel http://www.who.int/ipcs/features/benz the most accurate predication of health stations as play areas ene.pdf outcomes in highly exposed individuals.