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Benzene: A Danger to Texas Industry Workers
Benzene exposure:
Certain industry workers, especially railroad workers, may be exposed to
high levels of benzene and benzene-containing products like paints,
paint thinners, gasoline, kerosene and various degreasers and solvents.
Benzene poisoning can occur through inhalation of vapors, absorption
through the skin by handling benzene soaked items and even by swallowing
benzene containing products. Respirators alone are not adequate
protection for industry workers from exposure to these cancer-causing
substances.
Workers at Risk For Exposure to Benzene:
• Railroad workers
• Painters
• Chemical workers
• Gasoline distribution workers
• Refinery workers
• Shoe/leather workers
• Rubber workers
• Pesticides manufacturing workers
• Printers
• Paper and pulp manufacturing workers
• Adhesive production workers
• Newspaper press workers
Workplace Hazard Benzene Exposure Limits
OSHA - The legal airborne permissible exposure limit is 1 ppm
averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 5 ppm not to be exceeded during
any 15-minute work period.
NIOSH - The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.1 ppm
averaged over a 10-hour workshift and 1 ppm not to be exceeded during
any 15-minute work period.
ACGIH - The recommended airborne exposure limit is 0.5 ppm
averaged over an 8-hour workshift and 2.5 ppm as a short-term exposure
limit.
Benzene is a well known carcinogen (cancer causing agent). Benzene
exposure is strongly associated with certain types of leukemia. Leukemia
is any type of that affects blood cells. According to the American
Cancer Society, leukemia is the sixth leading cause of cancer deaths
among men and the seventh leading cause among women.
Symptoms of leukemia may include pale skin due to anemia, fatigue,
shortness of breath, and a decrease in the concentration of red blood.
This can lead to bleeding gums, a tendency to bruise easily and nose
bleeds. When the cancer affects the white blood cells, it causes the
patient to become more prone to infection.
There are four major
types of Leukemia:
• acute myelocytic leukemia (called
AML),
• chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML),
• acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL),
• and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL), similar to leukemia, has been linked as
well to environmental exposure (ex: benzene) although its cause is not
known. Treatment and prognosis varies for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and
leukemia patients and is mostly dependent on how far advanced the
disease is, and the overall health of the patient.
If you or a loved one has a benzene-exposure related illness or death,
you are entitled to compensation. Contact the Law offices of Carabin &
Shaw for an absolutely free and confidential attorney evaluation of your
case. We have offices across the state of Texas to serve you. Contact us
today.
Fill
out the form on the right of your screen or Call Now – (877) 280-6462
For more information about Benzene exposure see our other web pages:
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