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Product Liability Resource Center
Benzene - Who is at Risk?
Although benzene has been banned in the United States for over 20 years, workers are still exposed to significant amounts of benzene poisoning when working with petroleum products. Most workers come into contact with benzene by breathing it into their lungs or absorbing it through their skin when working with solvents. Millions of workers in the U.S. are exposed to significant amounts of benzene every year. Even small amounts of exposure to benzene can cause acute myelogenous leukemia cancer.
High-risk Benzene Exposure Jobs
- Adhesive production
- Aircraft engine and fuel workers
- Automotive mechanics
- Barge / tug workers
- Boat and vessel seamen
- Brake technicians
- Chemical plant workers
- Dock workers
- Engine and turbine workers
- Gasoline distribution workers
- House painters
- Industrial plant workers (solvents)
- Maritime workers
- Newspaper press workers
- Offshore workers
- Painters (marine, industrial and auto)
- Paper and pulp
- Pesticide manufacturing
- Pipefitters
- Printers and print shop employees
- Railroad workers
- Refinery workers
- Rubber workers
- Shoe / leather workers
- Solvent workers
- Synthetic rubber production
- Tankermen
- Truck drivers
