Ongoing Investigation Into Long-term Benzene Exposure Causing Leukemia

Kahn Gauthier Swick is investigating lawsuits that many persons in the U.S. have been systematically exposed to dangerous levels of the chemical known as benzene. Breathing benzene can cause drowsiness, dizziness, and unconsciousness; long-term benzene exposure causes effects on the bone marrow and can cause anemia and leukemia. If you think you have been exposed to benzene and would like to file a lawsuit, please contact Kahn Gauthier for more information.

Benzene is widely used in the United States; benzene 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 synthetic fibers. Benzene is also used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.

Benzene is a widely used chemical formed from both natural processes and human activities. Benzene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor, and evaporates into the air very quickly and dissolves slightly in water. Benzene is highly flammable and is formed from both natural processes and human activities. The chemical benzene has been found in at least 813 of the 1,430 National Priorities List sites identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Benzene exposure can occur in numerous ways:

• Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, automobile service stations, exhaust from motor vehicles, and industrial emissions.
• Indoor air generally contains higher levels of benzene from products that contain it such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
• Air around hazardous waste sites or gas stations will contain higher levels of benzene.
• Leakage from underground storage tanks or from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can result in benzene contamination of well water.
• People working in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels of it.
• A major source of benzene exposure is tobacco smoke.

Breathing very high levels of benzene can result in death, while high levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. Eating or drinking foods containing high levels of benzene can cause vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death.

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that benzene is a known human carcinogen. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs. Several tests can show if you have been recently exposed to benzene. There is test for measuring benzene in the breath; this test must be done shortly after exposure. Benzene can also be measured in the blood, however, since benzene disappears rapidly from the blood, measurements are accurate only for recent exposures.

Benzene Induced Leukemias:

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Description:

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) affects various white blood cells including granulocytes, monocytes and platelets. Leukemic cells accumulate in the bone marrow, replace normal blood cells and spread to the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, central nervous system, kidneys and gonads. Symptoms of Acute myeloid leukemia include but are not limited to: prolonged bleeding, skin rash, fatigue, bone pain, and weight loss.

Occurrence:

• Approximately 500 children are diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukemia in the United States each year.
• Acute myeloid leukemia is diagnosed in about 20 percent of children with leukemia. It usually occurs in people older than 25, but sometimes is found in teen-agers, toddlers and infants.
• Acute myeloid leukemia is the most common second malignancy (a different or second cancer found in a patient previously treated for cancer) in children treated for malignancies.

Other Names for Acute Myeloid Leukemia:

• Acute Granulocytic Leukemia
• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
• Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia (ANLL)
• Non-lymphoid Leukemia
• Myeloblastic Leukemia
• Granulocytic Leukemia
• Myelocytic Leukemia

Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)

Description:

Chronic myelogenous leukemia is a malignant cancer of the bone marrow that causes rapid growth of the blood forming cells (known as myeloid precursors) in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and body tissues. Symptoms of Chronic myelogenous leukemia include but are not limited to: fever, bone pain, enlarged spleen, and fatigue.

Other Names for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia:

• Chronic Granulocytic Leukemia

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)

Description:

Acute lymphocytic leukemia is a progressive, malignant disease characterized by large numbers of immature white blood cells that resemble lymphoblasts. These cells can be found in the blood, the bone marrow, the lymph nodes, the spleen, and other organs. Symptoms of Acute lymphocytic leukemia include but are not limited to: prolonged bleeding, skin rash, fatigue, bone pain, and weight loss.

Other Names for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia:

• Acute Childhood Leukemia

Chronic Lymphacitic Leukemia (CLL)

Description:

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (also called CLL) is a blood and bone marrow disease that usually gets worse slowly. CLL is the second most common type of leukemia in adults. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia often occurs during or after middle age; it rarely occurs in children.

Other Benzene Damages Include:

• Secondary Aplastic Anemia
• Myelodysplasia
• Myelodysplastic Syndromes
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
• Multiple Myeloma

Have you been exposed to unhealthy levels of benzene?