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Benzene Pollution

Benzene Pollution

Now a days we are mostly facing Benzene Pollution. Before we go to the article we have to know what is benzene? How Benzenes are effecting our body? Let’s see

Benzene is a simplest organic, aromatic hydrocarbon and parent compound of numerous important aromatic compounds. It is a colourless liquid with a characteristic odour and is primarily used in the production of polystyrene. Benzene is highly toxic and is a known carcinogen; exposure to it may cause leukemia. As a result, there are strict controls on benzene emissions.

What are the Natural sources of benzene?

Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. Normal environmental concentrations of benzene are unlikely to damage animals or plants. It does have a low to moderate toxicity for aquatic organisms, but this is only likely to be apparent when high concentrations arise from significant spills. 

What are the sources of benzene pollution?

The indoor benzene exposure is often higher than outdoor. The outdoor air usually contains a low level of benzene from tobacco smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions. The benzene in indoor air comes from products such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents. Further, fuels such as coal, wood, gas, kerosene or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) for space heating and cooking also lead to higher benzene concentration indoors. Polyurethane is used majorly its two major applications, soft furnishings and insulation. Its thermal decomposition consists mainly of carbon monoxide, benzene, toluene, oxides of nitrogen, hydrogen cyanide, acetaldehyde, acetone, propene, carbon dioxide, alkenes and water vapor. 

How Benzene effects us?

Immediate signs and symptoms of exposure to benzene

  1. Drowsiness
  2. Dizziness
  3. Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  4. Headaches
  5. Tremors
  6. Confusion
  7. Unconsciousness
  8. Death (at very high levels)
  9. Vomiting
  10. Irritation of the stomach
  11. Dizziness
  12. Sleepiness
  13. Convulsions
  14. Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  15. Death (at very high levels)

Long-term health effects

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Animal studies have shown low birth weights, delayed bone formation, and bone marrow damage when pregnant animals breathed benzene.
  4. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that benzene causes cancer in humans. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.

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