Ongoing Investigation Into Long-term Benzene Exposure Lawsuits

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.

Our full article about the Benzene lawsuit contains information about this article and others like it, including other lawsuits.