What is benzene?
Benzene is a chemical that is a colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature.
It has a sweet odor and is highly flammable.
Benzene evaporates into the air very quickly.
Must read: Pollution dome : formation and impacts
Its vapor is heavier than air and may sink into low-lying areas.
Benzene dissolves only slightly in water and will float on top of water.
Must read: Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
Where benzene is found and how it is used?
1 . Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires.
2 . Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
Must read: PARTICULATE MATTER AND ITS EFFECTS
3 . Some industries use benzene to make other chemicals that are used to make plastics, resins, and nylon and synthetic fibers.
4 . Benzene is also used to make some types of lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.
Must read: Particulate pollution in Delhi NCR
How we could be exposed to benzene?
1 . Outdoor air contains low levels of benzene from tobacco smoke, gas stations, motor vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions.
2 . Indoor air generally contains levels of benzene higher than those in outdoor air. The benzene in indoor air comes from products that contain benzene such as glues, paints, furniture wax, and detergents.
Must read: Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
3 . The air around hazardous waste sites or gas stations can contain higher levels of benzene than in other areas.
4 . Benzene leaks from underground storage tanks or from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can contaminate well water.
Must read: Largest Emitters of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) in the World
5 . People working in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to the highest levels of it.
6 . A major source of benzene exposure is tobacco smoke.
What are the signs and symptoms of exposure to benzene?
Immediate signs and symptoms
People who breathe in high levels of benzene may develop the following signs and symptoms within minutes to several hours:
Drowsiness; Dizziness; Rapid or irregular heartbeat; Headaches; Tremors; Confusion; Unconsciousness;
Death (at very high levels)
Eating foods or drinking beverages containing high levels of benzene can cause the following symptoms within minutes to several hours:
Vomiting; Irritation of the stomach; Dizziness; Sleepiness; Convulsions; Rapid or irregular heartbeat; Death (at very high levels)
Long-term health effects of exposure to benzene
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.
Some women who breathed high levels of benzene for many months had irregular menstrual periods and a decrease in the size of their ovaries.
Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, cancer of the blood-forming organs.
External link: https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/chemical-safety-and-health/health-impacts/chemicals/benzene
PRACTICE QUESTIONS
Q 1. Which of the following are the reasons/factors for exposure to benzene pollution ? UPSC 2020
1.Automobile exhaust
2.Tobacco smoke
3.Wood burning
4.Using varnished wooden furniture
5.Using products made of polyurethane
Select the correct answer using the code given below :
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2 and 4 only
(c) 1, 3 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
