Benzene and Cigarette Smoke

Benzene is a solvent classified by the EPA as a human carcinogen and has been identified as a known cause of leukemia.

Benzene is used in the manufacturing of other chemicals, including:

• nylon
• polystyrene
• pesticides
• gasoline

Benzene is one of the 20 most widely used chemicals in production in the United States.

Benzene is present in cigarette smoke and accounts for half of all human exposure to this health hazard. While definitive conclusions have not yet been drawn, it is generally thought that smokers face an increased risk of leukemia over their nonsmoking counterparts.

Short-term, high level exposure to benzene, through inhalation or ingestion, causes damage to the central nervous system and can lead to:

• paralysis
• coma
• convulsions
• dizziness
• sleepiness
• rapid heart rate
• tightness in the chest
• tremors
• rapid breathing

Long-term exposure to benzene can cause:

• decreased red blood cells through damage to bone marrow
• anemia
• leukemia
• excessive bleeding
• genetic damage
• negative effects on the immune system

Benzene is but one of many poisonous and carcinogenic chemical compounds found in air tainted with cigarette smoke. Breathing in ETS threatens life for smokers and nonsmokers alike.