Benzene

A colorless liquid with a sweet odor. It belongs to hydrocarbons, the simplest representative of aromatics with chemical formula of C₆H₆. Its boiling temperature is 80,5 °C, melting temperature 6 °C, specific gravity 0.880 g/cm³ at 20 °C. It evaporates into the air very quickly and dissolves slightly in water. It is highly flammable and is formed from both natural processes and human activities. Natural sources of benzene include emissions from volcanoes and forest fires. benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.benzene is widely used to make other chemicals which are applied to make plastics, resins, and nylon and other synthetic fibers. benzene is also used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. It breaks down slowly in water and soil, and can pass through the soil into underground water. benzene does not build up in plants or animals. Breathing very high levels of benzene can result in death, while high levels can cause drowsiness, dizziness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. Eating or drinking foods containing high levels of benzene can cause vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, rapid heart rate, and death. The major effect of benzene from long-term exposure is on the blood. benzene causes harmful effects on the bone marrow and can cause a decrease in red blood cells leading to anemia. It can also cause excessive bleeding and can affect the immune system, increasing the chance for infection. Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia, particularly acute myelogenous leukemia, often referred to as AML. This is a cancer of the bloodforming organs. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in the USA has determined that benzene is a known carcinogen. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the EPA have determined that benzene is carcinogenic to humans.