How Can Benzene Affect My Health?

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 symptoms such as vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death.

The major effect of chronic or intermittent exposure to benzene is on the blood. Benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection. It can also cause blood diseases, or hematalogic diseases, cancers of the blood-forming organs, and other diseases.

Some women who breathed high levels of benzene for many months had irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of their ovaries. It is not known whether benzene exposure affects the developing fetus in pregnant women or fertility in men.

Animal studies have shown low birth weights, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage when pregnant animals breathed benzene.

Benzene-Related Diseases

	Benzene and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Benzene and Acute Myelogenous Leukemia is also known as Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Acute Myelocytic Leukemia, Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia, Acute Nonlymphocytic Leukemia and Acute Granulocytic Leukemia. It is often abbreviated: AML. read more >>

	Benzene and Multiple Myeloma Among the types of malignancies whose relationship to benzene exposure is questioned by these experts is multiple myeloma. read more >>

	Benzene and Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia A fair review of research shows that exposure to benzene can indeed cause Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia in humans. read more >>

	Benzene and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) results from an acquired (not inherited) injury to the DNA of a single cell, a lymphocyte, in the bone marrow. read more >>

	Benzene, Myelofibrosis and Myeloid Metaplasia Myelofibrosis is a disorder in which fibrous (scar) tissue replaces the blood-producing cells in the bone marrow. read more >>

	Benzene and Thrombocytopenic Purpura Thrombocytopenic purpura is a hematologic condition characterized by a low platelet count and mucocutaneous bleeding. read more >>

	Benzene and Hairy Cell Leukemia HCL is called "hairy cell" because in this subtype of leukemia the malignant lymphocytes have small projections on their surface that give the appearance of hair under the microscope. read more >>

	Benzene and Aplastic Anemia Aplastic anemia causes your bone marrow's production of blood cells to decrease. Exposure to benzene, certain medications or working with radioactive materials can cause these changes in the bone marrow. read more >>

	Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative disorder characterized by increased proliferation of the granulocytic cell line without the loss of their capacity to differentiate. Benzene exposure is commonly linked to Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. read more >>

	Myelodysplastic Syndrome Up to 35% of MDS patients progress of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) within a few months of initial diagnosis and the MDS has sometimes been characterized as a preleukemic condition or simply "preleukemia." read more >>

	Non-Hodgkin�s Lymphoma Non-Hodgkins disease is a type of lymphoma, or cancer of the lymphatic system. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas comprise all lymphomas that are not characterized by Reed-Sternberg cells, like Hodgkins Disease. read more >>

Our Lawyers Can Help!

If you have questions about benzene poisoning or blood disorder symptoms and are concerned about possible occupational diseases and cancers, we are here to help. Toxic tort and injury laws are complex and confusing. The Metzger Law Group is here to help you. Call us today for a FREE evaluation to find out if you have a case or fill out our free evaluation forms to consult with a member of our caring staff.

BLOG | NEWS | RESOURCES | FEEDBACK