1. Benzene By Taylor Hatchett

2. What is Benzene? Chemical Colorless or light yellow Liquid at room temperature Has a sweet odor Highly flammable Evaporates quickly into air

3. What is Benzene? Vapor is heavier than air May sink into low-lying areas Dissolves slightly in water Will float on top of water

4. How Benzene Works Causes cells not to work correctly Can cause bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells Can lead to anemia. Can damage the immune system Changes blood levels of antibodies Causes the loss of white blood cells

5. How Benzene Works Seriousness of poisoning depends on: – Amount, route, and length of time of exposure – Age and preexisting medical conditions

6. Signs of Exposure People who breathe in high levels: – Within minutes to several hours: – Drowsiness – Dizziness – Rapid or irregular heartbeat – Headaches – Tremors – Confusion – Unconsciousness – Death (at very high levels)

7. Signs of Exposure Eating foods or drinking beverages containing high levels: – Within minutes to several hours: Vomiting Irritation of the stomach Dizziness Sleepiness Convulsions Rapid or irregular heartbeat Death (at very high levels)

8. Signs of Exposure If a person vomits because of swallowing foods or beverages containing benzene: – Vomit could be sucked into the lungs Causes breathing problems and coughing Direct exposure of the eyes, skin, or lungs: – Causes tissue injury and irritation.

9. Long Term Health Effects Exposure of one year or more Major effect is in the blood Harmful to bone marrow – Disallowing reproduction of red blood cells – Leads to anemia Excessive bleeding Harmful to immune system, allowing great risk for infections

10. Long Term Health Effects After breathing in for many months: – Some women had irregular menstrual periods – Some woman had a decrease in the size of their ovaries – Animal studies in pregnant females show: low birth weights delayed bone formation and bone marrow damage

11. Long Term Health Effects The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) determines: – Causes cancer in humans – In the air causes: Leukemia Cancer of the blood-forming organs

12. Where is it found? Formed by: – Natural processes – Human activities Natural Sources: – Volcanoes – Forest fires

13. Where is it found? Human Sources: – Crude oil – Gasoline – Cigarette smoke Widely used in U.S.

14. Uses Used to make: – Plastics – Resins – Nylon and synthetic fibers – lubricants – Rubbers – Dyes – Detergents – Drugs – Pesticides

15. How You Can Be Exposed Outdoor Air (Low Levels): – Tobacco smoke – Gas stations – Motor vehicle exhaust – Industrial emissions Indoor Air (Higher Levels than Outside): – Glues – Paints – Furniture wax – Detergents.

16. How You Can Be Exposed The air around hazardous waste sites Contaminated well water – Breaks in underground storage tanks – Hazardous waste sites Working in industries that use Benzene Smoking tobacco

17. Benzene Madness http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/automobil es/a/benzene_in_car.htm http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/automobil es/a/benzene_in_car.htm http://youtu.be/nCMjY9AqiBw

18. Sources http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/benzene/basics /facts.asp http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/benzene/basics /facts.asp www.legalinfo.com Youtube