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

In June, Benzene Leukemia Law Blog covered an Associated Press (AP) story about possible health risks associated with the inhalation of chemicals due to the use of used shredded tires (known as playground tire crumb) as an injury reducing playground surface. The popular material is also used on modern artificial turf playing fields.

Shredded tires contain high levels of carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene, in addition to lead and other heavy metals. According to the June AP article the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was in the process of conducting air and surface samples at four playgrounds.

Although the EPA for years has endorsed recycled-rubber surfaces as a means of decreasing playground injuries, its own scientists now have pointed to research suggesting potential hazards from repeated exposure to bits of shredded tire that can contain carcinogens and other chemicals, according to internal EPA documents.

The scientists cited gaps in scientific evidence, despite other reviews showing little or no health concern, and urged their superiors to conduct a broad health study to inform parents on kids’ safety.

Results from the agency’s limited study, which began last year, are expected within weeks.

It all seemed very reasonable. Maybe using a highly toxic material, in a shredded form, on playgrounds, could be bad for children. Worth a study right?

Well... not exactly. According to a report from investigative reporter Andrew Schneider this week at coldtruth.com, the EPA fell a bit short on this "study."

The following quotes cite documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER.)

Schneider:

Earlier this month, Eric Wachter, director of the EPA Office of the Executive Secretariat replied and conceded that “The Agency has not conducted research to evaluate children’s ‘health effects’ from tire crumb constituents.” (emphasis mine)

Wachter wrote that EPA only did a “literature review” in 2008 and after that began a “very limited methods evaluation study” of “available monitoring methods for characterizing environmental contaminant concentrations at those recreational fields” but has not yet finished even that, says PEER.

The above doesn't check out with the following late June quotes found in the Philadelphia Enquirer from the EPA's press wing:

The preliminary results of a new study by the Environmental Protection Agency may contain good news for field operators. The raw data shows there is no inhalation danger to children who play on various types of artificial fields and play surfaces, according to EPA spokesman Dale Kemery.

“It appears that the results are echoing the New York findings,” Kemery said, citing reports issued last month by the New York state government. The reports found no “detrimental health or environmental effects.”

The EPA study also will address concerns that carcinogens may be emitted from pulverized rubber tires that provide cushioning for many newer-generation, mixed-fiber fields, and play surfaces.

But why would the EPA go to the trouble of pointing out possible health risks of shredded tire playground surfacing and then pretending to launch a study finding it to be safe?

Now we enter into the realm of speculation. Allow me to. Any reasonable person could deduce that using a shredded tires, which contain concentrated carcinogens and heavy metals, in a play area, could possibly be unsafe. Anyone who has ever smelled a modern playground on a sunny day will agree, there is a definite odor, implying that particles from the tires are present in the air. So the EPA acts like they're on the job, ready to address this inherently reasonable concern. Do they have any intention of finding it unsafe or even really studying it? No.

Because of their highly toxic ingredients tires are not allowed in landfills and cannot be burned as they were in the past, they really start to pile up. So you have a major industry around selling recycled tires. Hey, it's green! The EPA notoriously stays out of the way of industry of any kind. When absolutely forced to, they routinely slap big polluters with minuscule fines, thus creating an allowing a culture of  affordable polluting to persist throughout the country. In the U.S. today, largely thanks the the EPA's lackluster performance, it's cheaper to pollute all you want and pay the little fines, on the off chance you are ever caught.

So there's my impolite take on it, here's what Jeff Ruch, executive director of PEER had to say:

The polite way to say it is EPA misled parents and the public into believing it was actually addressing potential toxic exposure risks to kids. Incredibly, EPA takes the position it does not know enough to withdraw its endorsement of playground tire crumb. Common sense and a precautionary approach to children’s health dictate that EPA should not endorse something that it has not examined.

There is a humorous side to all of this. The EPA thought they could do this weak "evaluation" call it a study and rely on their press people to spin things up, making themselves look cautious while giving  playground tire crumb a solid future. HA! maybe ten years ago! This is the age of information. Fools.

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Today we remember the terrible tragedy of 9/11, and honor those who lost their lives. It is central to the future of our nation that we now seek to understand gross failure of the EPA, which worked closely with the Bush administration in the aftermath of the destruction, to deliberately downplay the risks associated with the toxic smoke from the fallen towers. 

A report filed by the Office of the Inspector General of the EPA in August 2003 explains that the Bush White House censored EPA press releases:

"When the EPA made a September 18 announcement that the air was 'safe' to breathe, it did not have sufficient data and analysis to make such a blanket statement. Furthermore, the White House Council on Environmental Quality influenced . . . the information that EPA communicated to the public through its early press releases when it convinced EPA to add reassuring statements and delete cautionary ones," (emphasis mine.)

In an Orwellian twist, an EPA statement pointing out that dust samples from lower Manhattan contained higher than safe levels of asbestos was changed by the White House to read: "samples confirm previous reports that ambient air quality meets OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) standards and consequently is not a cause for public concern."

The report also showed that language in part of an EPA draft which stated that asbestos levels in some areas were three times higher than national safety standard was changed to "slightly above the 1 percent trigger for defining asbestos material.

Among the deleted cautionary statements was a warning to "sensitive populations"  such as the elderly, and those with asthma and respiratory diseases.

Also deleted by the White House, a recommendation that Ground Zero should be cleaned by professionals. According to the 2003 report the recommendation was replaced with instructions for the public to "follow instructions from New York City Officials."

Here's what Mayor Giuliani said on September 30Th:

“There is a lot of questions about the air quality because there are at times in downtown Manhattan and then sometimes even further beyond that, a very strong odor. The odor is really just from the fire and the smoke that continues to go on. It is monitored constantly and is not in any way dangerous. It is well below any level of problems and any number of ways in which you test it.”

The October 26, 2001 New York Daily News article by Juan Gonzalez, "A Toxic Nightmare at Disaster Site," exposed that the EPA had indeed found that benzene and dioxin levels at Ground Zero were well in excess of acceptable levels.

Many of the Ground Zero responders, selflessly working to save fellow Americans, would surely have been there regardless of any warnings about toxic air. I speculate that many responders were aware of the toxic dangers they bravely faced, it doesn't take an EPA specialist to figure out that smoke from burning buildings probably contains toxins. But why wouldn't OSHA enforce normal worker safety standards especially months after 9/11, well past the emergency?

As a result of this high level downplaying of dangers, many who worked at Ground Zero in the months following 9/11 are now suffering greatly.

One recent study found that 25% of Ground Zero workers continue to suffer lung aliments.

Another new study recently covered by Benzene Leukemia Law Blog, reported that 9/11 responders face increased risk of multiple myeloma, a disease that is increasingly being linked to benzene exposure. Read the Post...

Ground Zero workers have not been compensated by the government in any way for the harm they have suffered as a result of their heroic actions. The Feal-Good Foundation, is a non-profit organization started by disabled ground zero worker John Feal, that raises money to help those harmed by their service at Ground Zero. Click here to check out the website and find out how you can help. While you're there, check out the eye opening video "Save The Brave," which outlines the plight of 9/11 Ground Zero workers.

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The lone star state is no stranger to controversy around problems with air pollution. Houston, Dallas, and many other major Texas cities are found on the federal government's dirty air list due to elevated ground level ozone pollution. This week the EPA said that Texas air pollution rules are out of compliance with the federal Clean Air Act, and proposed an abolition of current permitting practices.

Houston Mayor Bill White told San Antonio Express-News:

 “We think Texas' procedures should be improved.”

 “We were given only a few weeks to protest a permit that would allow dozens of tons of benzene per year to be put into our air, and there has been no action on the objection to the permit for over six months.” 

The permit would have renewed the company's ability to release 45 tons of benzene per year over the next ten years. Even without the renewal, current regulations allow Lyondell to continue releasing benzene, a known carcinogen, at it's current levels.

Critics of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's pollution permitting procedures argue that the organization ignores other nearby facilities and their emissions when considering permits.

Mayor White:

"Each request is approved in a vacuum. Procedures today are tilted towards those putting cancer-causing chemicals in the air in large quantities and against those representing the public interest. They require people objecting to the permit to respond to an application within a matter of weeks, even if the polluter took months to prepare the application, and then the polluter can continue putting chemicals in the air under the old permit even after the old permit expired. That's just not right.”

But wait... what does TCEQ have to say for itself? Here's Richard Hyde, the agency's deputy director:

"Texas is a big state, and we have a lot of permitting programs that are significantly larger than other states. The EPA has a mindset that is a lot different than ours about how we achieve emissions reduction.”

He's right folks, Texas is big! So are their permitting programs, (so what?)

He's also spot on in the second sentence, the EPA has a mindset towards actual emissions reduction, the TCEQ has a mindset of using loopholes and ignoring data, which actually increases emissions. Two very different mindsets indeed.

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According to the World Health Organization over 25% of illness world wide is caused by environmental toxins, meaning pollution.

Arguably, the ignorance that allowed humans to mindlessly pollute the planet in pursuit of economic prosperity fueled the industrial revolution and allowed the rise of industrialized nations in the 20th century. However, today there are many reasons why this mentality must be cast aside. Modern science has recently shed light on just how negatively pollution can affect our health and our environment. 

Benzene, just one carcinogen of the many found in modern pollution, has been shown to dramatically increase the risk of life threatening hematological (blood) diseases like aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndromes, and leukemias such as acute lymphocytic leukemia, and acute myelogenous leukemia. 

I'm sure many would point out that we have improved our nation's air quality in the last 30 years, and that our air is now cleaner than ever. While this may be true, a large portion of our population is breathing toxic air daily. And while we're on the subject, let's remember the developing world. A major reason our air here in the U.S. is cleaner these days is that many big polluters have moved to to poorer nations with little or no regulation of pollution. This forces levels of pollution unknown in today's U.S., on millions of the world's poorest people.

Our air may be cleaner than ever, but in many densely populated parts of the U.S. the air quality is cause for alarm. Recent revelations as to the toxicity of the air outside many U.S. schools has lead the EPA to launch an unprecedented new air toxics monitoring initiative that will analyze the air outside 62 schools in 22 states. The schools are all in areas which according to government data, are determined to be toxic hot spots.

The EPA acknowledges that this program comes in the wake of a recent USA Today study which used government data to show that air outside 435 schools was more toxic than than air outside Meredeth Hitchens Elementary. Hitchens Elementary was an Ohio school closed in 2005 after the Ohio EPA discovered air born carcinogen concentrations 50 times higher than acceptable state levels.

Clearly we still have work to do cleaning up our nation's air.

For all it's hyperbole, I got a kick out of the following editorial from Ohio's Ironton Tribune which makes the case for clean air as a inalienable right for all Americans. While a shade nationalistic I agree with this sentiment though I would extend the right to all inhabitants of the planet, and call it a human right. I think that the idea will almost certainly be embraced as the information age allows humans to learn exactly what they are breathing, and why it's dangerous:

"When our founding fathers wrote that all Americans had certain inalienable rights they were trying to secure key liberties they felt all citizens deserved.

"Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness" were chief among these. It would have been impossible for the authors of the Declaration of Independence to know there was at least one more they should have included: the right to breathe clean air..."

Continue reading...

These days you've just got to ask yourself, why should anyone be allowed to release known carcinogens, at any level, into the air we all have to breathe?

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If you have kids or grand kids you've probably noticed the springy recycled tire rubber surfaces found under many newer playgrounds. The material is also used on sports fields in modern artificial turf. The popular surfaces, made from shredded tires, reduce injury, require little maintenance, and are weatherproof.  So what's the problem? Tires contain known carcinogenic aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene, as well as lead, and other heavy metals..



The EPA is conducting air and surface samples at  four fields and playgrounds that feature recycled tires. According to AP the study was implemented in light of other EPA research suggesting health risks from exposure to the tire particles.

"From everything I've been able to see, I'm not sure there's an imminent hazard, but it's something we're investigating, it's critical to take a look at all the data together."

- Michael Firestone, EPA's head of children's health protection. 

Much of the concern is due to tiny particles of "turf dust" that could be kicked up and inhaled during play.

Dr. Philip Landrigan, professor and chairman of community and preventive medicine at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York is calling for a moratorium on the surface until more studies are done.

 "All those toxins are very available to kids, if kids are playing and running, all this chemical soup is going to get on their skins and their fingers."- Dr. Landrigan

This issue is a perfect example of the classic disconnect regarding dangerous toxins in our society. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 25% of illness worldwide is due to human exposure to toxins. With that in mind it seems ridiculous that we would purposefully place large quantities of a material made from known carcinogens on our children's playgrounds and athletic fields.

Of particular concern to parents should be the lead and benzene present in "crumb rubber." Lead is well known to cause neurological damage in children, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advocates eliminating all non-essential uses of lead.

Benzene is linked with bone marrow failure diseases like aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and acute myeloid leukemia.

The EPA points out that chemicals in recycled tires vary by location and manufacturer.

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The EPA has announced this week that British Petroleum (BP) has been emitting the known carcinogen benzene at it's Whiting (IND) refinery's waste water treatment plant without adequate air pollution control devices for almost six years.

In the wake of this revelation, nineteen congress members from all of the Great Lakes states have joined forces to call for a "systematic look" at BP Whiting's compliance with it's water, air and land pollution permits.

U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., had this to say in a statement that accompanied a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson:

"This latest development further underscores the fact that BP cannot be trusted to meet federal clean air and water requirements, It is my hope that the EPA takes swift action to review all of BP's pollution permits to ensure there are no other violations that have gone unnoticed. 

Rep. Kirk has a point, BP can't be trusted. The company already faces several other pollution related lawsuits including a Texas City suit around major violations of Texas environmental laws. The suit alleges that improper maintenance of equipment at BP's Texas City refinery caused an explosion that killed 15 workers, sickened 170 residents, and released massive quantities of benzene and other carcinogens.  Let's put it this way, they're not going to win this one.

Rep. Kirk went on to say:

"No one argues against the need to expand production capability at the Whiting facility, but there should be zero tolerance for releasing deadly poisons into our air and water.''

Kirk is referring to a controversial plan to expand the Whiting facility. I like the zero tolerance part, but to say that no one argues against the expansion plan is completely disingenuous. A brief search of the web will turn up countless arguments against the expansion, such as the following from Henry Henderson, a blogger who lives in the shadow of the plant:

"The obvious question repeats itself: if current operations of the refinery result in serious violations of laws that protect human health and safety, and damage the environment, why should the company be allowed to expand refinery operations to accept even dirtier crude than it currently treats, and increase the pollution from the facility?"'

The fact that benzene causes cancer has been well documented, but studies over the last few years suggest that even current allowable benzene exposure levels set by the EPA and OSHA may negatively impact health. I think it's only a matter of time before the EPA will be forced by overwhelming scientific evidence to admit there is no safe long term exposure level for benzene. 

Although benzene is a commodity chemical with many useful applications, I think society is in the process of discovering that it's even more dangerous than we thought. Too dangerous to be allowed at any level in our air water or soil.

Because benzene is heavily relied upon by the industrial sector, researching safer substitutes must be a part of the solution.

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In the largest settlement in the 14 year history of the EPA's audit policy, chemical and textile giant Invista will spend $500 million to bring 12 plants into compliance with environmental laws. The EPA's audit policy includes incentives to companies that voluntarily disclose and correct environmental violations.

All of the plants in question were recently purchased by Invista from Dupont.  Soon after purchasing the plants Invista disclosed 680 violations at 12 plants in 7 states. In March 2008 Invista filed an $800 million lawsuit against Dupont citing the companies failure to allow a thorough review of the plants before sale. The suit is pending.

According to the EPA the spending will result in:

• $325 million in estimated annual human health benefits.
• 30 fewer premature deaths.
• 9,000 fewer cases of upper and lower respiratory symptoms.

The above results will be achieved through installation of  pollution control equipment to treat air pollutants and remove benzene from waste water.

The settlement includes a 1.7 million civil penalty.

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Opponents of the proposed 12 lane Interstate 5 bridge linking Portland OR. and Vancouver WA., recently rallied in downtown Portland, citing health concerns regarding the project.

The massive bridge is the Columbia River Crossing project's response to a fast growing Northwest population.

Activists present at the rally found fault with 2008 Federal Highway and Transit Administration draft environmental impact statement which found that while increasing traffic drastically, the massive project would somehow lead to pollution reduction of 30 to 90 percent.

A recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report paints a starkly contrasting picture, and expresses concern over how the above figures were drafted. According to EPA documents, the $4.2 billion project would likely lead to increased toxic chemical emissions in an area of Portland already notorious for pollution.

The north and northeast sections of Portland are associated with higher air pollution levels due to freeway proximity and industrial emissions. Recent studies have demonstrated that those living near or on a freeway face increased risk of  benzene exposure. Exposure to the chemical has been linked to serious conditions like aplastic anemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, and non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Benzene is just one of many dangerous chemicals found in vehicle emissions.

Sylvia Evans, an environmental justice advocate from north Portland, expressed concern about the project.
 

"It will render that neighborhood uninhabitable, I don't think my health or my neighbors' is worth sacrificing for someone else's privilege to live, work, and play in two different states."

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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new air toxics monitoring initiative that will Analise the air outside 62 schools in 22 states.   The schools are all in areas which according to government data, are determined to be toxic hot spots. 

The $2.25 million program will involve the EPA as well as state and local air pollution control agencies.  Here are the simplified goals of the plan according to the EPA's website:

• collect samples of outdoor air near selected schools over 60 days,
• analyze those samples for air toxics of potential concern,
• report on levels of air toxics found and their potential for long-term health impacts,
• evaluate actions that may be needed to reduce levels of pollutants of concern, and
• take action as needed to ensure that nearby industries are in compliance with clean air regulations.

The EPA acknowledges that this program comes in the wake of a recent USA Today study which used government data to show that air outside 435 schools was more toxic than than air outside Meredeth Hitchens Elementary.  Hitchens Elementary was an Ohio school closed in 2005 after the Ohio EPA discovered air born carcinogen concentrations 50 times higher than acceptable state levels.

Speaking to USA Today EPA administrate Linda Jackson said:

"Your stories raised important questions that merit investigation and that's what we're doing, we want parent to know that the places there children live, play, and learn, are safe."

The EPA project will focus on "air toxics",  hazardous air pollutants suspected to cause cancer and serious health effects.  Under the Clean Air Act the EPA regulates emissions of 187 air toxics.   The monitoring will measure two forms of pollution: gases, such as benzene, and pollutants in particle form such as hexavalent chromium, manganese, or lead.

It's great to see the EPA acting on this.  It is well known that children are even more susceptible to toxic chemicals than adults because they breathe more air in proportion to their weight than adults. Clean air should be a given for children in their learning environment.  

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Whether you’re looking for federal regulations regarding benzene in the workplace or information on the health effects of benzene exposure, there are a number of valuable resources on the Web to help you in your search. Listed below are just a few:

The Environmental Protection Agency – A general report on benzene, potential sources of exposure and its health hazards can be found here and a fact sheet on how it affects groundwater/drinking water can be found here.
 

Occupational Health and Safety Administration – Provides information on OSHA regulations for benzene in the workplace, including how to recognize and evaluate benzene hazards
 

National Marrow Donor Program – An informational page on acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) can be accessed here.
 

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Great resource for cancers of the blood, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and acute myelogenous leukemia, which are both sometimes caused by benzene exposure.

 

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The Environmental Protection Agency recently proposed setting emissions limits on benzene and other toxins released from gas-fired and diesel stationary engines. These engines are used to generate electricity and power industrial equipment, and over 1 million of them operated in the U.S. last year.

Emissions from diesel and gas-fired stationary engines are significant and limiting the emissions could reduce toxic air pollutants by 13,000 tons per year, according to EPA estimates.

There is a serious health risk to those working or living in areas where toxic emissions are released. For instance, exposure to benzene is linked to several rare blood disorders including acute myelogenous leukemia. To weigh in on the EPA proposal, visit the agency’s website where you can submit comments for a limited period of time.

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In a settlement with the Environmental Protection Agency, BP Products North America has agreed to implement measures that will reduce benzene emissions at its Texas City refinery. The settlement will benefit those living in and around the area, who have suffered potentially harmful benzene exposure.

Exposure to benzene causes a variety of health problems including cancer (acute myelogenous leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in particular), immune system suppression, and reproductive damage, among other things.

According to a press release by the EPA, BP will spend more than $161 million to control pollution generated during its petroleum refining processes. The money will go toward equipment upgrades, as well as improved monitoring and maintenance.

The EPA estimates that these actions will reduce emissions of benzene and other toxic chemicals by as much as 6,000 pounds a year.

 

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Gude Landfill in Montgomery County, Maryland, is seeping – and has been seeping for years – hazardous chemicals such as benzene, mercury and lead into area groundwater. In some cases, the contaminant levels are as much as ten times higher than what the Environmental Protection Agency allows.

Now, state environmental officials and a group of concerned citizens are seeking data from the county regarding the toxic contamination. The county has kept records on the contamination since shortly after the landfill stopped operating in 1982, but has failed to report the results to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Residents at Risk?

A representative from the county’s Department of Environmental Protection said there is no evidence linking the pollution to health effects in the community, though some residents have suffered years of toxic exposure.

Benzene is a known cancer-causing chemical and has been linked to rare cancers such as acute myelogenous leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The spokesperson for the local DEP said the residents’ drinking water has not been contaminated, but added that kids and pets should not play in nearby Rock Creek.


 

 

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South Carolina may face sanctions from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency if it doesn’t come up with the money necessary to clean up some 3,000 sites contaminated with benzene and other dangerous chemicals.  

The chemicals are leaking from underground fuel tanks and polluting nearby groundwater. Contamination caused by the leaks is not only affecting property values, but also raising health concerns among residents.

Benzene and cancers such as leukemia have long been linked, and testing has revealed that the toxic chemical has tainted wells in some of the state’s rural neighborhoods.

Officials at the Department of Health and Environmental Control have known about the contamination caused by leaks for years, but the agency has only made two requests in more than a decade for clean up money.



 

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Recent reports claim that U.S. Steel is planning on spending $1.4 million in an attempt to treat water tainted by benzene. The decision involves building 11 wells surrounding its Gary Works complex near Lake Michigan to contain benzene-tainted water. Researchers found that the water has been leaking into the lake for several months and potentially putting the surrounding community at risk. The water was found to be contaminated by the toxic chemical known as benzene after officials analyzed the soil and groundwater.

Although neither U.S. Steel or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency officials are sure about how much benzene was in the lake, the company has concluded that there are benzene levels of 1 to 3 parts per million.

The EPA Discovers Benzene

"It's not a level that's showing any immediate risk," explains the project manager of the EPA, Tamara Ohl. "But it's high enough. Clearly, we don't want a situation where benzene is going into the lake.” 

Officials say that the benzene came from an older tank farm at the coke plant, which was removed several years ago. The tainted water was reportedly caused by a large crack in a lake breakwall that surrounds the plant. However, even though health officials have found what is causing the exposure to the lake, repairing the wall would require a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit, would not fix the tainted groundwater problem, said U.S. Steel spokesman Charles Rice. 

U.S. Steel is expected to submit a treatment plan to state and federal environmental regulators by the end of this month. Plant officials said they hope to have the system operational by the summer or fall. 



 

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Recent reports from Stanford University claim that the amount of toxins in home carpets is equivalent to the toxins, like benzene, that are given off in cigarettes. Dr. Wayne Ott PhD explains that oftentimes community leaders put too much blame on industry in terms of benzene exposure when in fact the causes of many illnesses is right beneath are feet, literally.

“We have measurements, lots and lots of measurements, lots of studies, showing that most of the pollution and most of the exposure to toxic chemicals occurs in your homes, like in your carpet. And these are all things that you can change easily,” says Dr. Ott.

Studies Reveal New Source of Exposure

EPA studies of human exposure to air pollutants, like the toxic chemical benzene, show that indoor air levels of many pollutants are two to five times higher than any outdoor levels. Researchers estimate that the majority of people spend about eighty to ninety percent of their time indoors. So with all of this time spent on the floor, the research proves that toddlers can ingest anywhere from 0.02 to 10 grams of dust and soil each day. And much of this dust and soil contains harmful chemicals that exist within the carpet and are brought in by outdoor sources.

For years, outside sources and certain industries known to use benzene in their products and work days have been the primary source of blame for benzene exposure. Although benzene does cause harm to many through these sources, Dr. Ott explains that in many cases, people have to look no further than themselves and their own homes for the bad air they breathe.

Cigarette smoke, which contains benzene, has been found to be the number one source of indoor toxic air. Pollution meters can reportedly detect the harm of cigarette smoke lingering in the air for up to five hours.

 

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According to recent reports, students in Wicomico County, Maryland, are more likely to be exposed to benzene toxins when they’re outside than their fellow classmates in the Lower Shore counties.

The findings were revealed in a recent eight-month USA Today analysis of Environmental Protection Agency pollution that found several areas through the U.S. where toxic chemicals in the air were at troubling levels. Although most schools within Wicomico County had a better than the national average when tested, many of them were found to have dangerously low air quality levels.

Researchers Test for Benzene

The study was conducted by setting up monitoring devices at 95 schools within 30 states in America. Researchers from John Hopkins University and the University of Maryland analyzed several samples from these monitoring devices. This way, there were able to see how pollution levels could make people ill or even increase their risk of various cancers.

The study revealed that the air quality in Beaver Run was volatile and the EPA was able to determine that the people within this community, in particular the children attending the schools directly affected by the poor air and water quality, were extremely risky.

Beaver Run is a school with about 570 children ranging to pre-kindergarten to the second grade. And it was here that scientists found the benzene levels to be extremely risky. The experts who were in charge of the monitoring referred to the levels as being “significant” and they intend on conducting further investigations and taking action to ensure the safety of these children.


 

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A field in East Austin, Texas which was once occupied by several giant cylinders holding gasoline is now reportedly cleaned-up after much controversy and community protesting. The area was dubbed "the tank farm" by those who lived in the surrounding communities of the field and it was a cause of concern due to the amount of benzene that was being emitted from the site.

Neighbors first heard about the site in the early 1990's and activists and public officials quickly took action. There was reportedly a dangerous amount of pollutants, including the toxic chemical known as benzene, infesting the groundwater near the site and the air was becoming highly intoxicated by emitted chemicals and gases.

Site of Benzene Emissions Finally Closed

According to reports, the six oil companies who were operating the facility agreed to close the site after threats of lawsuits and ongoing protests were thrown upon them. Although this decision was made 15 years ago, community leaders and occupants are now hopeful that they will finally start to see change as crews began clearing the field in the past few weeks.

Many believe that there will still be trace amounts of pollutants like benzene left in the area, even after the cleanup; however, the EPA says that the amount left behind, if any, won't be enough to cause any physical harm.

"If the tank farm really has been cleaned up, we want it to be something that serves the neighborhood," explains a local, touching on concerns that linger among some tank-farm neighbors.

The site, which has been open and operating for over 55 years, was operated by big whig oil companies like Exxon, Chevron, Citgo and Mobil. In the 1950's the surrounding areas of this field began being developed and many neighborhoods sprang up. Benzene is one of the leading causes of diseases like leukemia and aplastic anemia and as more research became exposed about the chemical, locals began worrying for their own safety and well-being. When many farmers in the community began having health problems, they knew exactly where to point fingers and so the protests began.

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A wastewater treatment company in Shreveport, Louisiana, is currently being investigated due to recent findings that benzene and other toxic chemicals from the plant were being dumped into the Red River. The facility was reportedly shut down in October 2007 after the river was found to be polluted. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality conducted several tests on the water and publicly revealed that hazardous waste from the plant was being disposed of in the river.

Among the toxins that were found to be polluting the river were benzene, toluene and xylene. Each of these chemicals can be extremely dangerous to those exposed and have been linked to various forms of cancer, including leukemia, lung cancer and aplastic anemia.

Ongoing Waste Problems

Despite the legal troubles the waste facility, known as CCS, is facing they are reportedly still seeking permission to discharge wastewater and storm water into areas where they would eventually find their way into the Red River.

Reports from a review of federal and state records related to CCS reveals:

• The illegal dumping of wastewater into Red River
• Four hidden tanks of hazardous waste that were supposedly identified by company officials as treated wastewater
• Concerns about accepting and treating wastewaters in early 2008

The findings of benzene are of most concern to health officials since the chemical is a known carcinogen and can cause fatal illnesses to those exposed over an extended period of time. Benzene can be found in gasoline, cigarettes and sodas.

 

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 The investigation continues outside of Parachute, Colorado on drinking water thought to be contaminated with benzene. Two springs outside of a cabin are the focus of the investigation and citations against four oil and gas companies have already been issued.

The citations claim the companies, along with a fifth which was added this week, OXY USA, failed to notify authorities about the benzene contaminating the springs. According to Debbie Baldwin, the environmental manager for the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, OXY failed to report the fact that oil and gas were leaking into a drain above the springs.

Residents at Risk of Leukemia

One resident, Ned Prather, has already come forward claiming he developed health complications because of the benzene contamination. Researchers have found that benzene is linked with life-threatening cancers such as leukemia. City officials expect more locals living near the springs to come forward. The benzene contaminated water is reported to have been leaking into a pond on Prather’s property.

More testing is reportedly being conducted to determine just how much benzene has been released into the water and for how long. In the meantime, health officials are encouraging those living in the area to seek medical attention if they are experiencing any health abnormalities.

Background on Benzene

Benzene is a chemical that is typically found in synthetic rubbers, dyes and gasoline. Exposure, through ingestion or inhalation, of the chemical can cause severe health problems, especially to those who are exposed for a long duration of time.

The Environmental Protection Agency, with the help of other agencies, is committed to ensuring that harmful substances such as benzene are not released into the environment; though in certain cases, such as the problems in Parachute, they were not made aware of benzene emissions, as is legally required. 

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What is Benzene and how is it used?

Benzene is a clear, colorless aromatic liquid. It is highly flammable. The greatest use of benzene is as a building block for making plastics, rubber, resins and synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester. Other uses include: as a solvent in printing, paints, dry cleaning, etc.

The list of trade names given below may help you find out whether you are using this chemical at home or work.

Trade Names and Synonyms:

Benzol 90
Pyrobenzol
Polystream
Coal naphtha
Phene

Why is Benzene being Regulated?

In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water Act. This law requires EPA to determine safe levels of chemicals in drinking water which do or may cause health problems. These non-enforceable levels, based solely on possible health risks and exposure, are called Maximum Contaminant Level Goals.

The MCLG for benzene has been set at zero because EPA believes this level of protection would not cause any of the health effects described below.

Based on this MCLG, EPA has set an enforceable standard called a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL). MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as possible, considering the ability of public water systems to detect and remove contaminants using suitable treatment technologies.

The MCL has been set at 5 parts per billion (ppb) because EPA believes, given present technology and resources, this is the lowest level to which water systems can reasonably be required to remove this contaminant should it occur in drinking water.

These drinking water standards and the regulations for ensuring these standards are met, are called National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. All community water supplies must abide by these regulations.

What are the Health Effects?

Short-term: EPA has found benzene to potentially cause the following health effects when people are exposed to it at levels above the MCL for relatively short periods of time: temporary nervous system disorders, immune system depression, anemia.

Long-term: Benzene has the potential to cause the following effects from a lifetime exposure at levels above the MCL: chromosome aberrations, cancer.

How much Benzene is produced and released to the environment?

Production of benzene has increased: from about 9.9 billion lbs. in 1984 to over 12 billion lbs. in 1993.

Benzene is released to air primarily from fumes and exhaust connected with its use in gasoline. Other sources are fumes from its production and use in manufacturing other chemicals. In addition, there are discharges into water from industrial effluents and losses during spills.

From 1987 to 1992, according to the Toxics Release Inventory, releases of benzene to water and land totalled over 2 million lbs. These releases were primarily from petroleum refining industries, with the greatest releases occurring in Texas.

What happens to Benzene when it is released to the environment?

If benzene is released to soil, it will either evaporate very quickly or leach to groundwater. It can be broken down by some soil microbes. It may also be degraded in some ground waters. If benzene is released to surface water, most of it should evaporate within a few hours. Though it does not degrade by reacting with water, it may be degraded by microbes. It is not likely to accumulate in aquatic organisms.

How will Benzene be Detected in and Removed from My Drinking Water?

The regulation for benzene became effective in 1989. Between 1993 and 1995, EPA required your water supplier to collect water samples every 3 months for one year and analyze them to find out if benzene is present above 0.5 ppb. If it is present above this level, the system must continue to monitor the benzene levels.

If contaminant levels are found to be consistently above the MCL, your water supplier must take steps to reduce the amount of benzene so that it is consistently below that level. The following treatment methods have been approved by EPA for removing benzene: Granular activated charcoal in combination with Packed Tower Aeration.

How will I know if Benzene is in my drinking water?

If the levels of benzene exceed the MCL, 5 ppb, the system must notify the public via newspapers, radio, TV and other means. Additional actions, such as providing alternative drinking water supplies, may be required to prevent serious risks to public health.

Drinking Water Standards:

Mclg: zero

Mcl: 5 ppb

Source:  EPA.gov

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