Look around your home, you likely have many cleaning products, paint, glue, food, sunscreen, and maybe some art supplies. What is the common denominator?
Benzene.
Hundreds of everyday items often considered harmless can contain benzene or have been produced through processes involving it. The risks associated with benzene exposure differ across various industries, but the reality is that thousands of individuals have been adversely affected. In the most extreme cases, this exposure can result in a diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), highlighting the hidden dangers lurking within seemingly innocuous products.
Benzene, a known carcinogen, is a colorless or light-yellow liquid chemical at room temperature. It is primarily used as a chemical solvent and in the pharmaceutical industry as a starting material or as part of the intermediate synthesis process for numerous chemicals. Benzene is also found in gasoline. It can be found naturally but is also produced by man-made processes and is a natural component of crude oil, which is currently the primary source of benzene produced. It also is a natural emission from volcanoes and forest fires.
Lab tests have confirmed that hand sanitizers, sunscreens, deodorants, dry shampoos, conditioners, antiperspirants, body sprays, and antifungal treatments contain benzene. It has been most frequently detected in aerosol or spray products, some of which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has deemed “life-threatening.” Further research has suggested that benzene contamination is far-reaching and likely in more products that haven’t been tested yet.
Global brands Procter & Gamble, Bayer, CVS, and Johnson & Johnson have issued voluntary recalls for widely distributed brands, including Brut, Sure, Pantene, Herbal Essences, Old Spice, Secret, Tinactin, Lotrimin, Coppertone, Neutrogena, and Aveeno. Art Naturals, Best Brands, and Natural Wunderz are among the recalled hand sanitizer brands.
People use products containing benzene daily, leading to chronic exposure.
Benzene, colorless and odorless, can also be found in:
Pericardial mesothelioma is quite uncommon. Those with this condition develop cancerous cells in the lining of the heart. Treatment tends to involve multiple approaches and could require a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and participation in clinical trials.
Patients diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma show the following symptoms:
Benzene exposure primarily occurs through the inhalation of contaminated air. This can happen in various settings, including workplaces where benzene is used or produced, areas near gas stations or industrial facilities that release benzene emissions, and even within homes that contain products that off-gas benzene, such as certain paints, glues, and cleaning agents. Benzene can also enter the body through ingestion of contaminated food or water, although this is less common. Skin contact with benzene can also lead to absorption, but this is generally a minor route of exposure compared to inhalation.
Workers in a wide range of industries that produce or use benzene are exposed to the highest levels of the chemical. These industries may include:
Exposure to benzene can occur in many different ways, notably through inhalation, skin absorption, and ingestion. Workers in the following industries may be exposed to benzene through breathing contaminated air, skin contact with benzene-containing liquids or solids, or accidental ingestion:
Public health experts emphasize that the risk from benzene exposure is directly correlated to the person’s total exposure. Our modern world is abundant with sources from daily consumer exposure to petroleum refineries.
Some academic research has shown that workers exposed to benzene in the air at an average concentration of 50 parts per billion (ppb) over a 40-year period will experience a significant increase in their risk of leukemia. Most research shows a link starting at 1,000 ppb.
Those in the rubber, chemical, paint, and petroleum industries are exposed to much higher levels of benzene.
Although the U.S. banned benzene as an ingredient over 45 years ago, it continues to cause problems today. Many have criticized the FDA for its lack of action and failure to do more to protect the public. Advocates are calling on the FDA to clarify existing benzene limits, establish more stringent exposure limits, and conduct internal tests to determine safety, rather than relying on independent labs.
Federal rules allow benzene to be used in the manufacture of personal care products, and due to cross-contamination, it can end up in goods, even if it’s not listed as an ingredient. There is an exception where benzene can be added in emergencies, such as the pandemic, or if it provides significant therapeutic advantages. The FDA has limited its presence to two parts per million in these scenarios. However, some products that do not fall under the emergency situation have been found to have levels as high as 21 ppm.
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) limits exposure to benzene in the workplace to 1 parts per million (ppm) over an average workday, and a maximum of 5 ppm for any 15-minute period. If there is a risk for higher exposure, employers are required to provide personal protective equipment.
The EPA limits the percentage of benzene in gasoline to a yearly average of 0.62% by volume, with a maximum of 1.3%.
When it comes to drinking water, the EPA limits the concentration of benzene to 5 parts per billion (ppb), while many states have lower limits.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) highlights that any product containing 5% or more by weight of benzene is hazardous. This requires special labeling.
Leukemias are blood cancers. There are several types, divided based on whether they are fast-growing (acute) or slow-growing (chronic) and whether they start in the myeloid or lymphoid cells.
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) starts in the bone marrow and quickly moves into the blood. It can spread to other body parts, including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system, and testicles. AML is also known as acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia.
AML tends to progress quickly and often requires immediate treatment; it is one of the most common leukemias found in adults.
The symptoms of AML include:
General signs and symptoms of AML:
(It should be noted that these are not just symptoms of AML and are most often caused by something other than leukemia.)
Symptoms of low red blood cell counts (anemia):
Symptoms from low white blood cell counts:
Symptoms from low blood platelet counts:
Symptoms caused by high numbers of leukemia cells:
Cancer cells in AML (called blasts) are larger than normal white blood cells and have trouble navigating through tiny blood vessels. Leukostasis occurs when the blast counts become too high, causing them to clog blood vessels and impede the flow of normal blood and oxygen. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
Other symptoms include:
Symptoms of leukemia cells spreading to other organs, specifically the brain and spinal cord:
If you have been exposed or think you’ve been exposed to benzene and experience any of the symptoms above, please see your primary care physician immediately.
Research has shown that benzene is a highly toxic chemical with no known safe level of exposure.
Workers in industries that manufacture or use benzene are at the highest risk. These include the rubber industry, oil refineries, chemical plants, shoe manufacturers, and other industries related to gasoline production. Other workers who may be exposed to benzene include steelworkers, printers, laboratory technicians, gas station employees, and firefighters.
When it comes to associated diseases, studies have shown that exposure to benzene increases the risk of developing AML and other blood disorders. Those working in the chemical, shoemaking, and oil refining industries are at the highest risk.
The problem lies in the metabolites of benzene. Benzoquinone, benzene oxide, and muconaldehyde, specifically, enter the bone marrow and alter and interfere with DNA. This results in structural changes, cell death, and the development of cancer.
Further studies have shown that even trace amounts of benzene can pose a significant risk to human health and cause the following:
It’s likely impossible to avoid benzene altogether, but there are ways to limit your exposure.