{"id":7380,"date":"2017-12-05T15:39:03","date_gmt":"2017-12-05T20:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/localhost:10028\/uncategorized\/benzene-found-in-paint\/"},"modified":"2022-06-21T21:10:21","modified_gmt":"2022-06-22T01:10:21","slug":"benzene-found-in-paint","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/napolilaw.lemonadestand.org\/en\/article\/benzene-found-in-paint\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Benzene Be Found In Paint?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you a regular user of detergent and dyes, bug sprays, and synthetic fibers? What about decorative paints and paint thinners? Nothing odd, millions of others use them too. They do make our lives convenient, scented, and colorful, after all. There\u2019s nothing unsafe or unhealthy about them, right?\u00a0Unfortunately, wrong. All of these products contain dozens of chemicals, but one of the most dangerous ones that they have in common is benzene. The law firm of Napoli Shkolnik is accepting cases of individuals affected by Benzene exposure. Contact us<\/a> <\/strong>immediately if you have been affected.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what benzene is, and how paints that contain it endanger our health.<\/p>\n

Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs for Short<\/h2>\n

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Benzene falls under the category of volatile organic compounds<\/a>, so let\u2019s start by explaining what they are and how they affect our well-being. You\u2019ll be surprised to find out that almost every second item in your household contains VOCs, though they are not all equally harmful to your health.<\/p>\n

Take dry-cleaned clothes for instance, or your car\u2019s exhaust pipe. Virtually everything that has the same distinctive smell contains VOCs in at least some amount. The same goes for mattresses, ball-point pens, and most types of shampoo.<\/p>\n

In simple terms, volatile organic compounds are substances that easily turn into gas or vapor at room temperature.<\/p>\n

To know which ones are dangerous, and which ones are not would take years and years of advanced biochemistry. Unless you are a chemist or a toxicologist, the chances are very thin that you\u2019ll be able to tell the difference. Luckily, Google can always help you learn what you don\u2019t know.<\/p>\n

Benzene, as studies tell us, is one of those VOCs that you should definitely be concerned about.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s So Dangerous about Benzene?<\/h2>\n

Benzene<\/a> is a colorless, flammable liquid that, like all other VOCs, have a very distinctive smell. In this case, you can easily recognize it for its sweetish odor. A notable characteristic of this substance is the ability to evaporate very quickly, particularly when it\u2019s exposed to air.<\/p>\n

If you are a smoker, you might know it from the ingredient list on your cigarette pack.<\/p>\n

Some drugs, detergents, and dyes, just as well as almost all pesticides, rubbers, lubricants, and plastics, contain benzene.<\/p>\n

According to American Cancer Society, benzene is a known carcinogen<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Studies on both lab animals and people have confirmed this finding and concluded that benzene really does cause damage to blood cells, thus impairing the central nervous system, causing immune disruption, and leading to severe medical conditions such as leukemia.<\/p>\n

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Benzene found in Paint<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s no doubt about benzene being one of the essential ingredients in paint, especially those produced in U.S. and used for decorative purposes. Benzene can be found in most all glossy paints, as well as spray paints and paint thinners.<\/p>\n

While some toxic VOCs trigger nausea and dizziness almost immediately, benzene is different.<\/p>\n

It can pollute the environment you live or work in for years without you noticing. It\u2019s enough to have your walls painted with a type of paint that contains benzene \u2013 the substance then gradually evaporates into the air you breathe, causing immune disruptions in your organism with each inhales.<\/p>\n

If not to cancer, a disrupted immune system inevitably leads to childhood asthma, breathing difficulties and diminished lung capacity, even reduced kidney function. To expecting parents, experts, therefore, advise thinking twice before they paint their nurseries. The same applies to the rest of us.<\/p>\n

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Can benzene cause any health problems?<\/h2>\n

Benzene is a dangerous chemical, as mentioned earlier it is classified as a known carcinogen<\/a>\u00a0by the American Cancer Society. Exposure can cause both short-term and long-term negative health effects.<\/p>\n

Short-term health effects<\/h3>\n

Consuming foods or drinks contaminated with high levels of benzene can cause vomiting, stomach irritation, dizziness, sleepiness, convulsions, and rapid heart rate. Breathing in high quantities of benzene can affect the central nervous system. This can lead to dizziness, drowsiness headaches, confusion, and\/or loss of conciousness. In extreme cases, death can occur after inhaling or swallowing very high levels of benzene.<\/p>\n

Exposure to benzene liquid or vapor can irritate the skin, throat, and eyes. Exposure to benzene on the skin may result in redness and blisters.<\/p>\n

Long-term health effects<\/h3>\n

Long-term exposure to benzene primarily damages the bone marrow. Bone marrow is the soft, inner part of bones where new blood cells are made.<\/p>\n

This bone marrow damage can result in:<\/p>\n