Benzene Exposure

Benzene exposure has been known to cause acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), as well as other forms of leukemia and other cancers.  Acute leukemias come on quickly.  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that about fifty percent of Americans are exposed to benzene through industrial sources.  People can be exposed to benzene at work, in the environment, and by using products that contain benzene.  Benzene can be present in the air, soil, and water.  Humans most often come into contact with benzene through skin absorption, by breathing it, or by drinking water contaminated with benzene.  Benzene is ranked as one of the most hazardous chemicals to both the environment and to humans.

Exposure to low levels of benzene for a short time can cause disorientation, increased heart rate, headaches, loss of consciousness, vomiting, and shakiness.  Exposure to high levels of benzene can be fatal.

Research has shown that benzene is a carcinogen (a substance that causes cancer). People who work with high levels of benzene or are exposed to it over a long period of time have a high risk for developing benzene-related illnesses such as acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), acute lyphocytic leukemia (ALL), non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL), hairy cell leukemia, aplastic anemia, and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). 

Please contact Paul & Hanley LLP for more information if you believe you have been exposed to benzene, or if you have developed a disease that could have been caused by benzene exposure.  Call us today at 800 933-2244 and we will provide you with a free consultation.