Benzene Leukemia Law Blog : Benzene and Leukemia Lawyer & Attorney : Burke & Eisner Law Firm : Benzene Exposure, Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

Recent natural gas drilling in North Texas has fueled concerns regarding benzene exposure. The community fears that the water and air are being polluted with benzene, which is a known carcinogen.  

Recent air tests within the surrounding areas where the drilling is being conducted showed high concentrations of benzene and other chemicals. The toxins were found both around the drilling site itself as well as in the surrounding communities.

More Tests for Benzene Requested

According to reports, cities, counties, and the state’s environmental agencies are now waiting for the follow-up testing they’ve requested to be done. They also are hoping that further action will be taken to ensure the communities and the environment is protected from benzene exposure.

The study that already took place is reportedly scheduled to be released later this month. During the study, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is said to have monitored more than 60 different areas throughout Tarrant, Denton, Parker, Johnson and Wise counties. This was done to help gather essential data, which the agency’s toxicology division is now analyzing. The results from tests conducted in November are supposedly going to be released to the public in February.

Although there’s no telling at this point what the state studies will find, individual tests have many worried and fearful for their health and the health of their children. The communities concerns even provoked TCEQ officials to meet with operators in the Barnett Shale to ask them to voluntarily reduce the amount of benzene being released.

Michael Honeycutt, who works as the toxicology director for TCEQ, says the level of benzene exposure at one site is comparable to “breathing constant gasoline fumes”. This type of exposure to a chemical like benzene has been known to cause cancers such as leukemia to those exposed over a long period of time. Long-term exposure to benzene in the air can cause leukemia.

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A benzene lawsuit was recently filed against Chevron USA by the widow of a man who passed away due to benzene exposure. The wife claims that it was because of her husband's former employer that he was diagnosed with a benzene related illness and his life was taken too soon. The man was reportedly employed by Chevron USA for many years and it was during his time as a refinery worker that he was exposed to the toxic chemical. 
 
Wife Seeks Benzene Attorney and Justice 
 
Louise Parker reportedly researched the cancerous chemical known as benzene and linked it to her husband's death in 2008. Following his premature death she sought the legal help of a benzene attorney who specializes in benzene-related cases to seek justice for her late husband.
 
According to the lawsuit, Ray Parke was employed by Gulf Oil, which is now Chevron, and worked in their refinery for many years. During his career with the global company he was reportedly exposed to benzene, which has been known to cause leukemia and other rare blood disorders. Parker eventually developed multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic and his life was taken in December of 2008.

Parker's wife claims that for decades Chevron was aware of the hazardous risks associated with benzene products but failed to inform their workers or give them any form of protection. Instead, they continued to exposure their unknowing employees to the toxic chemicals for years.

The benzene lawsuit also states that Chevron failed to take the necessary precautions regarding engineering, safety, and industrial hygiene to be sure that Parker was not exposed to benzene.

With the help of her benzene attorney, Parker is suing Chevron for exemplary damages.

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A benzene lawsuit was recently filed against Chevron USA by the widow of a man who passed away due to benzene exposure. The wife claims that it was because of her husband's former employer that he was diagnosed with a benzene related illness and his life was taken too soon. The man was reportedly employed by Chevron USA for many years and it was during his time as a refinery worker that he was exposed to the toxic chemical. 
 
Wife Seeks Benzene Attorney and Justice 
 
Louise Parker reportedly researched the cancerous chemical known as benzene and linked it to her husband's death in 2008. Following his premature death she sought the legal help of a benzene attorney who specializes in benzene-related cases to seek justice for her late husband.
 
According to the lawsuit, Ray Parke was employed by Gulf Oil, which is now Chevron, and worked in their refinery for many years. During his career with the global company he was reportedly exposed to benzene, which has been known to cause leukemia and other rare blood disorders. Parker eventually developed multiple myeloma and myelodysplastic and his life was taken in December of 2008.

Parker's wife claims that for decades Chevron was aware of the hazardous risks associated with benzene products but failed to inform their workers or give them any form of protection. Instead, they continued to exposure their unknowing employees to the toxic chemicals for years.

The benzene lawsuit also states that Chevron failed to take the necessary precautions regarding engineering, safety, and industrial hygiene to be sure that Parker was not exposed to benzene.

With the help of her benzene attorney, Parker is suing Chevron for exemplary damages.

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Reports claim that officials in Fort Worth, Texas, are getting ready to take action regarding the recent reports of high levels of benzene in the air. The the cancer-causing chemical has reportedly been infesting the surrounding Barnett Shale natural gas facilities.City leaders are concerned that the air quality is not only harming the environment but is also causing physical harm to the local residents living in and around the Fort Worth area. They say that they are now ready to take action in order to protect the citizens of Texas. 

"I don't think we can wait," says council member Kathleen Hicks, referring to the time it may take to have a thorough examination of the environmental impact the benzene has had on Fort Worth.

Hicks says she is concerned after hearing that infrared cameras near some gas facilities in the Barnett Shale found high levels of benzene.

"I think this is something we need to deal with as soon as possible," she told reporters.

Benzene Exposure Remains a Concern

Benzene is a highly toxic chemical that can lead to the development of leukemia and other rare blood disorders if inhaled or ingested over time. Several benzene exposure lawsuits have been filed across the country in recent months with the help of a benzene attorney and city officials are hoping it won't come to this in their community. At a recent Forth Worth City Council meeting Hicks, along with Mayor Mike Moncrief, supposedly directed city staffers to put together a report on what's known about benzene emissions. Some of the questions include:

• Who should be testing the air?
• What are other cities are doing to protect their citizens?

One example that was brought to the attention of local residents and some city council members was that in nearby Colleyville officials are considering requiring air quality sampling be done during all phases of the gas drilling process as a precaution to prevent benzene exposure. This will also require conditions to be met before drilling permits are given out.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality investigators have been taking more air samples throughout the week. They are expected to give a complete report of what they discover in terms of the levels of benzene in air by the end of the year. 

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Commissioners in Garfield County, Colorado continue to seek answers from the state regarding what has appeared to be many lapses in oil and gas drilling enforcement for water contamination problems. Commissioners met to discuss the situation earlier this week as to how they were going to demand more answers in regards to the West Divide Creek benzene and methane leak that occured in 2004.

According to county consultant Dr. Geoffrey Thyne, the seep that happened at West Divide Creek may not be able to be fully contained with repairs from EnCana. Many residents and officials also worry that the benzene and other toxic chemical issues in the area will not be limited to one well drilled by the company.
 
Leak Causes Benzene Exposure
 
The seep reportedly contained so much benzene and other chemicals property owner Lisa Bracken was able to light the creek water on fire in 2004. Government officials claim that since this time the benzene levels at the creek have lowered, however there is still cause for concern in terms of residents becoming the victims of benzene exposure. According to environmentalists and local officials, the methane levels have remained consistent since 2004 which is also alarming to those who living in the area and in terms of the safety of the environment.

The seep all is thought to have occured when hydraulic fracturing increased around the area. Hydraulic fracturing is when chemicals like benzene are injected into the sand and water into gas wells in order to free up more natural gas. However, this technique has been put in question due to situations like this since more research needs to be done regarding how the chemicals communicate with groundwater supplies.

Two Republican members of the Garfield County commissioners are now looking to Governor Bill Ritter’s COGC for answers about the recent water quality concerns relating to the oil and gas industry. they have more recently been criticized for failing to pass a bill that would require EPA to gain more control over hydraulic fracturing in the area.

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Jeffrey Cox is a U.S. soldier who recently spent two years in Iraq as a combat stress social worker in the Army Reserve. During this time he says he developed a chronic cough. The cough and his faltering health are thought to be the result of a toxic burn pit in Balad and Cox is now taking action to ensure other soldiers to encounter the same health problems when they return from the war.
 

"I don't have an oxygen tank that I carry around, but it affects me," Cox tells reporters. "Everybody that knows me has heard my cough."

According to Cox heavy smoke that was consistently being emitted from the massive burn pits commonly filled his base and exposed soldiers to toxic fumes like benzene.

"You'd sit in there and breathe that in all day. The smoke was so thick some days that it went right into where I was sleeping. It was like a heavy fog of smoke," says Cox.

Soldier Takes Action with a Benzene Lawsuit
 
Cox recently filed a lawsuit against Halliburton and KBR claiming that the two companies used the pits as dumping ground for unwanted materials, many which were toxic, and ranged from human corpses to plastic foam and bottles.

Everything was reportedly lit on fire and produced toxic fumes and flames that shot hundreds of feet into the sky. Cox says this toxic smoke infested the nearby living quarters where American soldiers and government contractors resided.

Cox and a fellow soldier, James Garland of Osterville, who has been diagnosed with a rare form of carcinoma, filed the lawsuit together. Another 34 lawsuits concerning cancer diagnoses and other health problems from the same pits have also been filed. The benzene lawsuit claims that Halliburton and KBR were negligent with how they dealt with the pits. Some soldiers have even lost their lives from acute myeloid leukemia due to their exposure to the toxic fumes on base.

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A landowner in Pennsylvania has filed a lawsuit against a local energy company claiming the natural gas drilling they are currently doing is causing the water, air and overall environment to be polluted with benzene and other toxic chemicals. 

George Zimmermann is the owner of 480 acres in Washington County, Pennsylvania. He claims that Atlas Energy Inc. has ruined his land with their recent drilling project and put the environment, as well as the community, at risk of benzene exposure. 
 
Water Tests Find High Levels of Benzene

According to reports, water tests were recently conducted at three locations by gas wells located on Zimmermann's property. The tests found seven chemicals that could potentially cause cancer, to be infesting the water. Researchers claim the level of carcinogens like benzene that was discovered in the water was well above "screening levels" set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Testers also concluded that more studies and testing needed to be done on Zimmermann's land.

Atlas officials claim that these accusations linking them to the land contamination are ridiculous, but Zimmerman intends on vigorously defending himself, and his land, in court. But Zimmermann says he has evidence that chemicals used by Atlas contaminated his land.

"There are substances that can't be made by nature and that's what's in the ground," Zimmerman told reports.

Drilling Conducted Poses Threat

Atlas is reportedly exploiting the Marcellus Shale, which is a vast gas reserve that underlies an estimated two-thirds of Pennsylvania, as well as portions of West Virginia, Ohio and New York State. Researchers believe that the project contains enough natural gas to meet the U.S. demand for at least a decade.

Zimmerman claims that in recent months water tests found chemicals at 2,600 times acceptable levels, benzene at 44 times above limits and naphthalene five times federal standards.
Benzene and the other chemicals found can cause serious illnesses like leukemia and can also damage the immune, nervous and respiratory systems when ingested or inhaled over. Zimmerman hopes the lawsuit will stop the drilling from affecting his land and he will be reimbursed for any land renovations needed.

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According to recent reports, former UCLA American and NBA star athlete, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, 62, recently publicly announced that he has been diagnosed with leukemia. Abdul-Jabbar, who is known for being a private celebrity, was reportedly diagnosed last December but chose not to publicly talk about his fight with cancer until now. He tells reporters that he decided to go public about his health in order to help others who are also living with leukemia and other forms of cancer.

The type of leukemia diagnosis Abdul-Jabbar received is known as Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Leukemia is a cancer of the blood that can be caused by benzene exposure and is one of the many cancers that doctors and researchers have not yet found a cure for. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is currently working as a special assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers and says he is now taking oral medication to help treat his disease.

Background on Leukemia

Leukemia affects the blood cells in the body and can affect adults and children alike. When a person is diagnosed with leukemia it means their bone marrow is producing abnormal white blood cells. These abnormal white cells are known as leukemia cells. The white blood cells in the body are there to help fight off infection. Therefore, when someone receives a leukemia diagnosis it means they are at higher risk of infection since their white blood cells are not working properly.

Leukemia risk factors

One common risk regarding leukemia is radiation. Radiation can often cause acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, or acute lymphocytic leukemia. Studies and research have also linked many types of leukemia to benzene exposure. Benzene leukemia can be caused when someone inhales or ingests benzene, a toxic chemical that is added into gasoline, over an extended period of time. Though there is currently no cure for leukemia, there are ways to prevent and treat the disease.

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According to reports, it's been more than 50 years since the Fillmore oil refinery closed, but Texaco is still in the process of cleaning the contaminated soil and groundwater of that surrounding the Superfund site. The air, water, and soil is reportedly soaked in benzene and other toxic contaminants, posing a threat to the people and environment living near the site.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EOA) officials claim Texaco and its parent company, Chevron, have been working vigorously on cleaning up the site, which is located just east of Fillmore's downtown. However, there are still high levels of benzene that have been detected in the water and soil. This week EPA officials reportedly asked Texaco to take the next steps necessary to eliminate the problem as quickly as possible. 

Harmful Chemicals Still Plague Site

Due to the dynamics of the water table, compounds like benzene, which have been linked to the development of leukemia and other cancers of the blood, reportedly don't pose a threat to drinking water in the community, says EPA project manager Holly Hadlock. But she does not that the site still needs to be cleaned up.

"With these levels of contamination in the soil, there is no immediate threat to anyone's health but for a long-term use they are above levels we want," explains Hadlock.

It's been years since Texaco first started the process of extracting the contaminated water from the site. However, even with all their supposed efforts, the water and soil at the site is still said to be highly contaminated. Hadlock says that a major problem is that the soil has a lot of clay, which is making it hard to extract all of the benzene from the ecosystem.

With the recent push from the EPA, Texaco now has is being forced to submit a plan on how they plan on removing the benzene by next year. Although, this ongoing cleanup process is expected to take several more years.

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