Emissions above that level don't trigger any regulatory action by the agency. He felt helpless. Meanwhile, an untold number of people were breathing benzene fumes without protection. "I don't think anyone really understood the magnitude," Craft said. The fire had been out for days when Ochoa, a 39-year-old pipe fitter at an industrial construction company, sat awake late into the night worrying about his son, who complained that his head hurt. (You can find the full list on page 12 of the report here.) Long-term exposure to benzene mainly harms the bone marrow, the soft, inner parts of bones where new blood cells are made. Hand sanitizers. Based on animal and human evidence, several expert agencies have evaluated the cancer-causing potential of benzene. Benzene is commonly found in air, but the levels in most places are usually very low. Deer Park officials appeared to rely more on air monitoring readings from its hired contractor than the EPA's. Levels of benzene can be higher in enclosed spaces with unventilated fumes from gasoline, glues, solvents, paints, and art supplies. He added that the city verified high benzene readings with multiple sources before deciding whether to tell residents to go inside. The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team. US Department of Health and Human Services. Now, Contreras is alert to strange odors in the air and watches for anything unusual at the nearby chemical plants - especially smoke. Accessed at https://publications.iarc.fr/123 on January 25, 2023. But Valisure, an online pharmacy that conducts routine batch tests of common consumer health products, recently shared some not-so-amazing findings about some sunscreens that may already be on your shelf. After reaching a low of 498 U.S. dollars per metric ton, the global price of benzene has increased . 2023 American Cancer Society, Inc. All rights reserved. First, yes, sunscreen itself is safe and can help protect against skin cancer, the most common cancer in the United States (it also helps curb premature aging). A group of massive tanks, some containing millions of gallons of highly flammable chemicals used to make plastic and gasoline, had caught fire at a chemical storage facility owned by Intercontinental Terminals Company, a Texas-based company owned by Japanese conglomerate Mitsui Group. No shelter-in-place advisory was issued for Channelview residents. Benzene | NIOSH | CDC "That almost killed some firefighters," Royall said. High levels of exposure can cause both short-term and long-term health effects. Federal rules allow benzene to be used in the manufacture of personal care products, and that can cause it to end up in goods, even if its not listed as an ingredient.
