Where It Comes From
Vehicle exhaust, tobacco smoke, gasoline and crude oil, industrial emissions, and some solvents and glues [1][3].
How You Are Exposed
Breathing outdoor/indoor air near traffic, gas stations, or attached garages; cigarette smoke; pumping gas; certain workplaces; less often through contaminated water or skin contact [1][3][4].
Why It Matters
Short-term: dizziness, headaches, drowsiness; very high levels can be life-threatening. Long-term: bone marrow damage, blood disorders, and leukemia (especially AML) [1][2][3].
Who Is at Risk
Workers in refineries/chemical and printing industries, fuel handlers; smokers; people near heavy traffic or gas stations; homes with attached garages; pregnant people and children [1][3].
How to Lower Your Exposure
Don’t smoke or breathe secondhand smoke; avoid idling or storing fuels in attached garages; limit time near gas pumps and step away while refueling; use low-VOC products with good ventilation; follow workplace protections; consider certified VOC filters if water is affected [1][3][4].
References
- [1]ATSDR. ToxFAQs for Benzene. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
- [2]IARC. Benzene. IARC Monographs; Group 1 carcinogen.
- [3]U.S. EPA. IRIS Summary for Benzene.
- [4]CDC. Benzene – National Biomonitoring Program.