NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards - Benzene: Physical description, chemical properties, potentially hazardous incompatibilities, and more

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Hazard Summary - Benzene: Uses, sources and potential exposure, acute and chronic health hazard information, and more

National Toxicology Program (NTP) carcinogenic classification: Known to be a human carcinogen [139 KB PDF, 3 pages]

International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) carcinogenic classification: Group 1 [85 KB PDF, 31 pages] (carcinogenic to humans)

EPA carcinogenic classification: Known/likely human carcinogen

EPA Inhalation Reference Concentration (RfC): 3x10^-2 mg/m³

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Inhalation Minimal Risk Levels (MRLs): 0.009 ppm (acute); 0.006 ppm (intermediate); 0.003 ppm (chronic)

NIOSH Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) concentration: 500 ppm

Notes on Other Potential Health Effects and Hazards

1. Benzene is a flammable liquid whose vapors can form explosive mixtures (NIOSH/IPCS 2003).
2. While percutaneous absorption of liquid benzene through intact human skin can be limited, the absorbed dose via direct dermal contact, combined with that received from body surface exposure to benzene in workplace air, is such that a substantial fraction of the total exposure is due to skin absorption (ACGIH 2001).
3. Phenol levels in urine have been used as an index of benzene exposure, where concentrations of 200 mg/L urine indicate an approximate exposure of 25 ppm benzene in air (OSHA 1980).
4. Ventricular fibrillation has been suggested as the cause of death following benzene vapor exposures (ATSDR 2007).
5. Myalgia has been reported as a symptom of exposure to benzene vapors (ATSDR 2007).
6. Benzene may also affect the renal system, as kidney congestion has been found following fatal inhalational exposure (ATSDR 2007).
7. An association may exist between occupational exposure to benzene and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma (ATSDR 2007).
8. Benzene appears to affect the immune system, where workers have been shown to have decreased levels of leukocytes and circulating antibodies (ATSDR 2007).
9. Exposure to benzene is associated with aneuploidies in blood cells and sperm (Ji et al. 2012).
10. Exposure to benzene may play a role in infertility, as workers have increased incidence of chromosomally defective sperm, which could result in spontaneous abortions, mental retardation, and inherited defects in their children (Marchetti et al. 2012).
11. An association may exist between mothers exposed to benzene and children with spina bifida (Lupo et al. 2011).
12. Exposure to benzene may increase the risk of acoustic neuroma, a benign intracranial tumor (Prochazka et al. 2010).
13. In one study, no association was found between occupational benzene exposure and breast cancer (Peplonska et al. 2010). However, another study "moderately supports" an association between benzene and breast cancer (Costantini et al. 2009).

Date Last Revised: 9/6/2012

Literature Basis

• ACGIH: Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) and Biological Exposure Indices (BEIs) - Benzene. 2001.
• ANSI (formerly United States of America Standards Institute): USA Standard Acceptable Concentrations of Benzene. September 1969.
• ATSDR: Toxicological Profile for Benzene. 2007.
• Costatini, A.S., Gorini, G., Consonni, D., Miligi, L., Giovannetti, L., Quinn, M.: Exposure to benzene and risk of breast cancer among shoe factory workers in Italy. Tumori. 95(1):8-12, January-February 2009.
• Ji, Z., Weldon, R.H., Marchetti, F., Chen, H., Li, G., Xing, C., Kurtovich, E., Young, S., Schmid, T.E., Waidyanatha, S., Rappaport, S., Zhang, L., Eskenazi, B.: Comparison of aneuploidies of chromocomes 21, X, and Y in the blood lymphocytes and sperm of workers exposed to benzene. Environ Mol Mutagen. 53(3):218-26, April 2012.
• Lupo, P.J., Symanski, E., Waller, D.K., Chan, W., Langlois, P.H., Canfield, M.A., Mitchell, L.E.: Maternal exposure to ambient levels of benzene and neural tube defects among offspring: Texas, 1999-2004. Environ Health Perspect. 119(3):397-402, March 2011.
• Marchetti, F., Eskenazi, B., Weldon. R.H., Li, G., Zhang, L., Rappaport, S.M., Schmid, T.E., Xing, C., Kurtovich, E., Wyrobek, A.J.: Occupational exposure to benzene and chromosomal structural aberrations in the sperm of Chinese men. Environ Health Perspect. 120(2):229-34, February 2012.
• NIOSH: Occupational Health Guideline - Benzene. 1988.
• NIOSH/IPCS: International Chemical Safety Card - Benzene. 2003.
• OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Substance safety data sheet - Benzene. 1910.1028 App A.
• OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Medical surveillance guidelines - Benzene. 1910.1028 App C.
• Peplonska, B., Stewart, P., Szeszenia-Dabrowska, N., Lissowska, J., Brinton, L.A., Gromiec, J.P., Brzeznicki, S., Yang, X.R., Sherman, M., Garcia-Closas, M., Blair, A.: Occupational exposure to organic solvents and breast cancer in women. Occup Environ Med. 67(11):722-9, November 2010.
• Prochazka, M., Feychting, M., Ahlbom, A., Edwards, C.G., Nise, G., Plato, N., Schwartzbaum, J.A., Forssen, U.M.: Occupational exposures and risk of acoustic neuroma. Occup Environ Med. 67(11):766-71, November 2010.

• sampling media: Charcoal Tube (100/50 mg sections)
  analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide
  alternate solvent: (99:1) Carbon Disulfide:Dimethylformamide
  maximum volume: 12 Liters   
  maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min TWA
  maximum volume: 0.75 Liters   
  maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min STEL
  minimum time: 15 Minutes   
  maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min Ceiling
  minimum time: 10 Minutes   
  maximum flow rate: 0.05 L/min (Peak)
  current analytical method: Gas Chromatography;GC/FID
  method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 1005)
  method classification: Fully Validated
  
  
• sampling media: Diffusive Sampler (3M 3520 Orgainc Vapor Monitor)
  analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide
  alternate solvent: (99:1) Carbon Disulfide:Dimethylformamide
  sampling time: 10 to 240 Min
  current analytical method: Gas Chromatography;GC/FID
  method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 1005)
  method classification: Fully Validated
  note: Persons using diffusive samplers to monitor workplace air must ensure that the sampling devices are properly closed before transporting such devices to the laboratory for analysis. The device will continue to sample until properly closed. Diffusive sampler accessories used for analysis of samplers must be included with transported samples. Persons using such devices must provide sampling-site station barometric pressure and temperature to the analytical laboratory to improve accuracy of sampling results.
  
  
• sampling media: Diffusive Sampler (SKC 575-002 Passive Sampler)
  analytical solvent: Carbon Disulfide
  alternate solvent: (99:1) Carbon Disulfide:Dimethylformamide
  sampling time: 10 to 240 Min
  current analytical method: Gas Chromatography;GC/FID
  method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 1005)
  method classification: Fully Validated
  note: Persons using diffusive samplers to monitor workplace air must ensure that the sampling devices are properly closed before transporting such devices to the laboratory for analysis. The device will continue to sample until properly closed. Diffusive sampler accessories used for analysis of samplers must be included with transported samples. Persons using such devices must provide sampling-site station barometric pressure and temperature to the analytical laboratory to improve accuracy of sampling results.
  

• device: Detector Tube
  manufacturer: Gastec
  model/type: 121
  sampling information: 1 to 4 strokes
  upper measurement limit: 120 ppm
  detection limit: 0.5 ppm
  overall uncertainty: 16.4% for 5 to 20 ppm, 8.2% for 20 to 60 ppm
  method reference: on-site air secondary (SEI Certified)
  
  
• device: Detector Tube
  manufacturer: Matheson-Kitagawa
  model/type: 8014-118SC
  sampling information: follow manufacturer's instructions
  upper measurement limit: 100 ppm
  detection limit: approximately 0.2 ppm
  overall uncertainty: unknown
  method reference: on-site air secondary (SEI Certified)
  
  
• device: Detector Tube
  manufacturer: Dräger
  model/type: Benzene 5/b, order no. 67 28071
  sampling information: 20 strokes
  upper measurement limit: 50 ppm
  detection limit: approximately 1 ppm
  overall uncertainty: 25%
  method reference: on-site air secondary (manufacturer)
  

• sampling media: charcoal pad from 3M 3500 or 3520 Organic Vapor Monitor
  analytical solvent: none
  note: Ship sample in a sealed 20 mL glass scintillation vial.

Bulk Method:

• current analytical method: High performance liquid chromatography; HPLC/UV
  method reference: OSHA Analytical Method (OSHA 12)
  method classification: Fully Validated
  note: Do not ship bulk samples with air samples.

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