What is benzene?
Benzene is an organic chemical compound sometimes known as benzol. It has a particularly sweet smell and is a colorless, flammable liquid. Benzene is a major industrial solvent and is used in the production process of plastic, oil, synthetic rubber and many dyes. The scientist Michael Faraday discovered benzene in 1825. He separated it from oil gas and called it bicarburet of hydrogen. It is produced naturally in forest fires and volcanoes. It is a carcinogen and a major component in cigarette smoke. Until the Second World War, benzene was manufactured as a by-product of coal production, mainly in the steel industry. In the 1950s, there was a growing demand for benzene, especially from the plastics industry. Out of this need, manufacturers began producing benzene from petroleum. Most of today’s benzene supply comes from the petrochemical industry, with only a small amount obtained from coal. Benzene is a chemical with many uses. Because of its sweet smell, it was used as an aftershave
Benzene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor. It evaporates into the air very quickly and dissolves slightly in water. It is highly flammable and is formed from both natural processes and human activities. Benzene is widely used in the United States; it ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production volume. Some industries use benzene to make other chemicals which are used to make plastics, resins, and nylon and other synthetic fibers. Benzene is also used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. Natural sources of benzene include emissions from volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
Benzene is an aromatic hydrocarbon that is produced by the burning of natural products. It is a component of products derived from coal and petroleum and is found in gasoline and other fuels. Benzene is used in the manufacturing of plastics, detergents, pesticides, and other chemicals. Benzene is also a chemical by-product of refining petroleum. Workers in these industries are usually exposed to benzene by inhaling the vapors or absorbing it through skin contact. Research has shown benzene to be a carcinogen (cancer causing agent). With exposures from less than 5 years to more than 30 years, individuals have developed, and died from, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and myelodysplastic syndrome. Long-term exposure may affect bone marrow and blood production. Short-term exposure to high levels of benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, and death. The current permissible exposure level is 1 part of benzene per million parts of air for an 8 hour average, with a short-te
Benzene is a clear, colorless liquid with a sweet odor when in pure form. It burns readily. Benzene is obtained from crude petroleum. Small amounts may be found in products such as cigarette smoke, paints, glues, pesticides, and gasoline. What immediate health effects can result from benzene exposure? Breathing benzene vapor in small amounts can cause headache, dizziness, drowsiness, or nausea. With more serious exposure, benzene may cause sleepiness, stumbling, irregular heartbeats, fainting, or even death. Benzene vapors are mildly irritating to the skin, eyes, and lungs. If liquid benzene contacts the skin or eyes, it may cause burning pain. Liquid benzene splashed in the eyes can damage the eyes. The degree of symptoms depends on the amount of exposure. Special consideration regarding the exposure of pregnant women is warranted since benzene has been shown to have a small negative effect on genes and crosses the placenta; thus, medical counseling is recommended for the acutely expo
