BENZENE
By: Katia S. Taylor
What is Benzene…
 It
is a chemical that is colorless or light
yellow liquid at room temp.
 It has sweet odor and is highly flammable.
 It dissolves slightly in water, and will float
on top of water.
Chemical Formula…
 Benzene
is an organic chemical
compound with the chemical formula
C6H6.
 Its molecule is composed of 6 carbon
atoms joined in a ring, with 1 hydrogen
atom attached to each carbon atom.
Because its molecules contain only
carbon and hydrogen atoms, benzene is
classed as a hydrocarbon.
How you can get exposed…
 Outdoor
air may contain low levels of
benzene from automobile service stations
 wood smoke
 tobacco smoke
 the transfer of gasoline
 exhaust from motor vehicles
 industrial emissions
Benzene in soft drinks…
In 2006 benzene was found in a number of
soft drinks.
 Country Time Lemonade
 Hawaiian Punch - Fruit Juicy Red
 Sierra Mist
 Monster Energy
 Sunny D Smooth
Case Examples…
 In
2005, the water supply to the city of
Harbin in China with a population of
almost nine million people, was cut off
because of a major benzene exposure.
How it works….
Benzene causes cells not to function
correctly. For example, it can cause bone
marrow not to produce enough red blood
cells, which can lead to anemia. Also, it can
damage the immune system by changing
blood levels of antibodies and causing the
loss of white blood cells.
Uses…
Benzene can be used to make:
 Plastics
 Nylon and synthetic fabrics
 Dyes
 Detergents
 Drugs
 pesticides
Exposure limits…

Several tests can determine exposure to
benzene. Benzene itself can be measured in
breath, blood or urine, but such testing is
usually limited to the first 24 hours postexposure due to the relatively rapid removal
of the chemical by exhalation or
biotransformation. Most persons in developed
countries have measureable baseline levels of
benzene and other aromatic petroleum
hydrocarbons in their blood.
Biological oxidation and
carcinogenic activity…
 One
way of understanding the
carcinogenic effects of benzene is by
examining the products of biological
oxidation. Pure benzene, for example,
oxidizes in the body to produce an
epoxide, benzene oxide, which is not
excreted readily and can interact with
DNA to produce harmful mutations.
Inhalation…
 Inhaled
benzene is primarily expelled
unchanged through exhalation. In a
human study 16.4 to 41.6% of retained
benzene was eliminated through the
lungs.
 After exposure to 63 to 405 mg/m3 of
benzene for 1 to 5 hours, 51 to 87% was
excreted in the urine as phenol over a
period of 23 to 50 hours.
Quiz…
Question #1
1.
a)
b)
c)
d)
What is one way to get exposed to
benzene?
The sun
Tobacco smoke
Wind
chicken
Question #2
2. What is the chemical formula of
benzene?
a) H3O8
b) AL2C6
c) C6H6
d) None of the above
Question #3
3. Benzene is used to make what?
a) Drugs
b) Paints
c) Dyes
d) all of the above
Question #4
4. Benzene was found in what soft drink?
a) Water
b) Country time lemonade
c) Root beer
d) Dr. pepper
Question #5
5. which disease can benzene cause?
a) Asthma
b) Malaria
c) Anemia
d) Horse disease
Video
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqB
yUP13-Hk
Work Cited
"Benzene Exposure Risks at Home &
Work." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 15 May
2015.
"Benzene." Benzene. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May
2015.
"Tox Town - Benzene - Toxic Chemicals and
Environmental Health Risks Where You Live
and Work - Text Version." Tox Town - Benzene Toxic Chemicals and Environmental Health
Risks Where You Live and Work - Text Version.
N.p., 25 Feb. 2015. Web. 15 May 2015.