Article by Michael Helfand
What is Benzene?Benzene is a petroleum-based chemical that is widely employed in industrial and commercial manufacturing. It is clear, colorless and highly flammable. It evaporates swiftly into the air and can dissolve in water. It is often utilized to make other chemicals that are used in the production of paints, plastics, dyes, rubber and pesticides, amongst other things. Benzene is also naturally occurring and can be found in crude oil and gasoline.
How are men and women exposed to benzene?Exposure can happen either by means of inhalation of vapors or ingestion or contact with skin. Tobacco smoke, industrial plant pollution and vehicle emissions all contain benzene. An location such as a gas station will have high levels of evaporated benzene in the air. If a benzene spill occurs, benzene can absorb swiftly into the soil. Ingestion of benzene can happen if the water in a community is contaminated simply because of an industrial spill or if the soil becomes contaminated for some reason such as a leaking storage tank.
Exposure to benzene can occur in the workplace. For railroad workers, exposure can result from use of oil based lubricants and exposure to diesel exhaust or gasoline distribution. Other workers at risk for benzene exposure contain delivery workers, painters, printers, farmers who work with pesticides, auto mechanics who work with oil based items and laboratory workers. Exposure to benzene can also occur at house. At residence merchandise such as paint, detergents, varnishes, furniture waxes, solvents such as paint thinner, and degreasers may possibly likely contain benzene and users ought to strictly adhere to safety directions. How will I really feel right after becoming exposed to benzene?If you inhale benzene vapors, you might encounter nausea, drowsiness, dizziness, headache, rapid heartbeat, tremors, confusion and unconsciousness. If you ingest benzene, you might experience the very same symptoms as inhalation as well as vomiting and convulsions. If you come into physical contact with benzene, you may well experience irritation and tissue damage. Regardless of the manner in which you have been exposed to benzene, it is extremely recommended that you seek immediate medical attention. Can exposure trigger cancer?Benzene is classified as a carcinogen (cancer causing agent) by the US Department of Health and Human Services and, for that reason, its use is highly regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency and in the workplace by OSHA (US Occupational Safety and Health Administration). Exposure to benzene over a lengthy period of time can lead to lung cancer and numerous types of leukemia (a cancer that affects the white or red blood cells and the blood production centers of the body). Exposure to benzene can also cause Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, a cancer affecting the white blood cells and the lymphatic system.Myelodysplastic Syndrome can also result from exposure to benzene. Myelodysplastic Syndrome is not a cancer but it can itself enhance the risk of creating leukemia. It affects the bone marrow and results in the production of defective and immature red blood cells. What are the symptoms of diseases caused by benzene exposure?
Symptoms of leukemia consist of fever and chills, night sweats, sudden weight loss, weakness and fatigue, swollen lymph nodes and spleen, and bone pain. Symptoms of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma include comparable symptoms as leukemia as well as swollen lymph nodes in the neck, abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, coughing and chest discomfort. Symptoms of Myelodysplastic Syndrome include fatigue, shortness of breath, pale skin color and frequent infection.
Statute of Limitations
Oftentimes, people are reluctant to file or contemplate filing a lawsuit when they are fighting a severe illness. You really should focus on your wellness and recovery but you should also keep in mind that any recovery you obtain from a lawsuit may support pay for medical bills, lost wages and other related expenses. If you have been diagnosed with an illness that is benzene related, it is highly suggested that you contact an attorney as soon as possible because the time limit to file on products liability circumstances (which would consist of cases against particular paint manufacturers and other materials that contain benzene) is two years soon after the diagnosis. If a loved 1 has died from a benzene related illness, you need to contact an attorney as soon as achievable simply because the same time limitations normally apply.
How will I pay for an attorney? Attorneys who deal with these varieties of circumstances nearly always work on a contingency basis. This means that you will not pay any attorneys' fees up front or have to put up any funds up front, such as expenses of professional witnesses. Rather, if you acquire a settlement or a jury award, your attorney is paid from that recovery quantity.
Now what?Call us. We are totally free and we are confidential. We can suggest an attorney in your region who has handled comparable benzene-related instances. To find out a lot more go to, http://www.findgreatlawyers.com/Illinois-Benzene-Lawyer.htm
About the Author
Michael Helfand has been an Illinois attorney since 1997 and is founder of http://www.findgreatlawyers.com/ProductLiabilityAttorney.htm the leading resource for Illinois lawyer referrals and legal guidance.
Dr. Ayalew Tefferi, professor of Hematology and Medicine at Mayo Clinic, discusses his write-up entitled "Myelodysplastic Syndromes: Numerous New Drugs, Little Therapeutic Progress, which appears in the November 2010 issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings (Offered at: tinyurl.com
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