What is Benzene?
Benzene is a colorless and flammable chemical that is processed from crude oil. Benzene forms into vapors that may cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and confusion. Government authorities have known of its toxic effects for some time and its use is tightly regulated. .
Scientific evidence suggests benzene exposure is related to many forms of leukemia:
These versions of Leukemia are not:
- Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
- Multiple Myeloma.
The petroleum industry has tried to make sure that workers are not exposed to benzene and protect workers, but in many cases this is insufficient. Benzene vapors are difficult to seal up, making it very hard to protect workers. Safety standards are also vague because it is difficult to tell what is safe and what is dangerous.