What does benzene do to the human body?
What does benzene do to the human body?
Benzene works by causing cells not to work correctly. For example, it can cause bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Also, it can damage the immune system by changing blood levels of antibodies and causing the loss of white blood cells.
Is benzene lethal?
Inhalation of benzene vapor concentrations of 20,000 ppm for 5-10 minutes can be fatal to humans; death results from central nervous system depression (Clayton and Clayton, 1981).
Why is benzene banned?
Benzene has been banned as an ingredient in products intended for use in the home, including toys. Benzene has a sweet, aromatic, gasoline-like odor. The odor threshold generally provides adequate warning for acutely hazardous exposure concentrations but is inadequate for more chronic exposures.
Does benzene cause brain damage?
Neurological effects have been commonly reported in humans following high-level exposure to benzene. Fatal inhalation exposure has been associated with vascular congestion in the brain. Chronic inhalation exposure has been associated with distal neuropathy, difficulty in sleeping, and memory loss.
What foods and drinks contain benzene?
The presence of benzene also was reported in butter, eggs, meat, and certain fruits; levels of these findings ranged from 0.5 ng/g in butter to 500-1900 ng/g in eggs.
How Does benzene cause leukemia?
Benzene has been shown to cause chromosome changes in bone marrow cells in the lab. (The bone marrow is where new blood cells are made.) Such changes are commonly found in human leukemia cells.
Why Does benzene cause leukemia?
What makes benzene so toxic?
The radiomimetic nature of benzene and its ability to induce different sites of neoplasia indicate that formation of oxygen radicals is a major cause of benzene toxicity, which involves multiple mechanisms including synergism between arylating and glutathione-depleting reactive metabolites and oxygen radicals.
What foods contain benzene?
Can benzene cause brain tumors?
The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, has found a link between parents’ exposure to chemicals such as benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene and brain tumours in their children.
How long does benzene stay in your body?
Some of the harmful effects of benzene exposure are caused by these metabolites. Most of the metabolites of benzene leave the body in the urine within 48 hours after exposure.
Does Coke contain benzene?
Benzene can form in soft drinks containing vitamin C and either sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate. Scientists say factors such as heat or light exposure can trigger a reaction that forms benzene in the beverages.
What should you do if you have been exposed to benzene?
For short-term exposure to high levels of benzene, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting away from the source of benzene, removing any clothing that may have benzene on it, washing exposed areas with soap and water, and getting medical care as soon as possible.
What is the difference between benzene and Benzine?
Not to be confused with Benzine. Benzene is an organic chemical compound with the molecular formula C 6 H 6. The benzene molecule is composed of six carbon atoms joined in a planar ring with one hydrogen atom attached to each. Because it contains only carbon and hydrogen atoms, benzene is classed as a hydrocarbon.
What does benzene look like at room temperature?
Benzene is a chemical that is a colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature. It has a sweet odor and is highly flammable. Benzene evaporates into the air very quickly. Its vapor is heavier than air and may sink into low-lying areas.
What are the effects of benzene on the body?
The major effect of benzene from long-term exposure is on the blood. (Long-term exposure means exposure of a year or more.) Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells, leading to anemia.
