Benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid that has been used for more than a century as a solvent and as an ingredient to make pesticides, dyes, and detergents. Benzene can be found in coal tar and gasoline. Thus, it is possible some people have been victims of benzene exposure in Oklahoma.
FAQ: Benzene Exposure in Oklahoma
Although benzene is a liquid, it evaporates quickly into the air and enters one’s body through the lungs. However, sometimes it can also be absorbed into the skin, especially if a person touches a substance like gasoline.
Once inside the body, benzene can cause changes to the chromosomes in bone marrow; these chromosomal changes develop into leukemia, a cancer of the bone marrow.
Since the 1920s, scientists have understood that benzene is a carcinogen. Yet, benzene was sold as a cleaning solvent for home and industrial use until the late 1970s. Since then, federal and state governments have issued regulations as to how much benzene can be released into the environment or utilized in certain areas, such as factories.
Recent studies have shown that no amount of benzene is safe and that even small exposures can cause leukemia. Nevertheless, one can still be exposed to the substance in oil refineries, gasoline plants, chemical plants, rubber manufacturing facilities, shoe factories, and gas stations.
More About Benzene Exposure in Oklahoma
Oklahoma product liability attorneys seek compensation for people injured by benzene by filing claims against benzene manufacturers and suppliers, the manufacturers and suppliers of products that contained benzene, employers who permitted the use of benzene on their premises, and independent contractors who used the chemical on worksites.
In response, American oil and chemical industries argue that they did not know the dangers of benzene when sanctioning its use in the past.
However, product liability attorneys have uncovered documents showing that these industries spent millions in research on benzene then tried to hide the dangerous propensities of the chemical, while encouraging American workers to use it on a daily basis. These industries had a duty not to place a known dangerous substance into the workplace, especially not without warnings that proper ventilation and protective clothing are crucial when using benzene.
Free Consultation: Oklahoma Products Liability Attorney
To find out if you or a loved one might be entitled to compensation for injuries that resulted from benzene exposure in Oklahoma, contact the Oklahoma products liability attorney at the Personal Injury Law Office of Tulsa today.
For a free, no-obligation consultation, call (918) 924-5528 or send your question using the email form on this page.
