California Benzene Exposure Lawsuit | Benzene Lawyers

Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers represents those who have developed cancer after being exposed to benzene. Call us today for a free consultation if you have been exposed to benzene and have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions:

• Acute myeloid leukemia / acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic myeloid leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
• Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
• Aplastic anemia
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
• Multiple myeloma

Benzene is one of the most 20 most-used chemicals in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. Benzene is a known carcinogen, and exposure to benzene and benzene-containing products can cause cancers such as leukemia.

Sources of benzene exposure include gasoline, hand sanitizers and industrial work settings.

If you hire us, you will receive the representation of a benzene lawyer who has been handling benzene cases since 1990. Our firm has recovered over $750,000,000 for those injured by toxic substances as well as other injury victims. Our vast experience in representing those injured by hazardous chemicals will allow us to recover the most compensation possible for you.

We will handle your benzene lawsuit on a contingency fee basis, which means we will not charge you any fee until and unless we recover money for you. Our only fee will be a percentage of any recovery obtained and we will not charge any upfront fee or out-of-pocket fee to handle your benzene claim.

Call us today for a free consultation, fill out this page’s free case evaluation form or text us from this page if you or a loved one was diagnosed with cancer after long-term exposure to the carcinogen benzene. We can help you recover financial compensation for medical bills, lost wages, pain, suffering, loss of earning capacity, wrongful death and more. Call us today.

What Is Benzene?

Benzene is a solvent chemical which us found in numerous consumer products and utilized in numerous industries, including the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. It has a sweet odor, is flammable, and, when in liquid form, is light-yellow or colorless.

It is used to synthesize other chemicals and is used in gasoline. The chemical is also used to make pesticides, drugs, detergents, dyes, lubricants, synthetic fibers, resins and plastics.

Man-made and natural processes produce the chemical – natural sources of benzene include forest fires, volcanoes and crude oil. However, the primary source of environmental benzene is industry.

Those who are at the highest risk of benzene exposure are those who work with and are exposed to petroleum solvents. Workers can inhale high levels of benzene by breathing contaminated air, increasing the risk of disease. Benzene contamination can also lead to benzene exposure.

The chemical can lead to bone marrow cell chromosome changes, and this can lead to immune system damage, excessive bleeding and aplastic anemia.

Benzene is toxic and, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, is a carcinogen. It can cause various cancers, especially acute myeloid leukemia.

What Are the Symptoms of Benzene Exposure?

The symptoms of short-term exposure to benzene include:

• Coughing
• Throat, nose and eye irritation
• Breathing difficulties
• Hoarse voice
• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Tremors

The symptoms of long-term exposure to benzene include:

• A higher risk of leukemia
• Aplastic anemia
• A reduction of red blood cell count

Those who swallow benzene may experience:

• Pain
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• A burning feeling coming from the digestive tract

Those whose skin is contacted by benzene may experience swelling and redness. Those whose eyes are contacted by benzene may experience irritation and burning.

Those who inhale benzene may experience:

• Convulsions
• Coma
• Lung and heart problems
• Neurological effects

What Is the Most Common Cancer Caused by Benzene?

Acute myeloid leukemia is the most common causer caused by benzene. This blood cancer affects your bone marrow. AML is linked with long-term inhalation of benzene.

AML is a bone marrow and blood cancer. It affects cells known as myeloid cells, which usually become mature blood cells such as platelets, white blood cells and red blood cells.

The symptoms of AML include:

• Pain
• Fever
• Paleness
• Fatigue
• Easy bruising
• Frequent infections
• Shortness of breath
• Bleeding without a clear cause

Studies have found that workers who are exposed to benzene, like workers in the oil refining, shoemaking and chemical industries, have higher rates of leukemia, especially AML. A 2010 study concluded that there is probably not a safe level of benzene exposure.

Benzene has also been linked with other serious conditions, including:

• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic myeloid leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
• Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
• Aplastic anemia
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
• Multiple myeloma

What Is the Settlement for the Benzene Lawsuit?

There have been numerous major settlements reached regarding benzene litigation over the years. These settlements have included:

• $725 million was awarded by a Pennsylvania jury in 2024 to a man who was diagnosed with AML after being exposed to benzene while he worked at a gas station from 1975 to 1980. The jury found that ExxonMobil negligently failed to warn about benzene’s health risks.
• $21.4 million was awarded by a California jury in 2019 to the families of a pair of brothers who developed cancer and died after being exposed to benzene in an Arkansas tire manufacturing plant. One of the men developed NHL and the other developed AML. The jury found that Chevron was liable for the deaths of the two men.
• In 2022, Procter and Gamble agreed to pay $8 million to consumers who bought the company’s aerosol products from November 2015 to December 2021. The products contained benzene. The products included Secret and Old Spice deodorants.
• In 2016, BP settled over 25,000 claims linked to emissions from a toxic Texas City refinery in Texas City, TX. BP did not publicize the size of the settlement.

Other Health Issues Linked to Benzene

If benzene is inhaled, it can lead to:

• Irregular or fast heartbeat
• Dizziness and drowsiness
• Tremors
• Headaches
• Unconsciousness
• Confusion
• Death (at high levels)

If benzene is swallowed, it can lead to:

• Dizziness
• Stomach irritation
• Vomiting
• Sleepiness
• Irregular or fast heartbeat
• Convulsions
• Death (at high levels)

If you have swallowed benzene, you are in danger and need to contact a health professional as soon as possible.

How Benzene Exposure Occurs

Those who work in jobs which use or make benzene can be exposed to high levels of the chemical.

Outdoors, low benzene levels may come from:

• Gas stations
• Tobacco smoke
• Industrial emissions
• Car exhaust

Air found near gas stations or hazardous waste sites may contain high levels of the chemical.

Well water can be contaminated by benzene leaks from hazardous waste sites or underground storage tanks.

Indoors, benzene may come from:

• Detergents
• Furniture wax
• Paints
• Glues
• Lacquer
• Industrial solvents
• Varnish removers
• Gasoline
• Coatings and adhesives
• Crude oil
• Rubbers
• Industrial degreasing and cleaning formulations

Benzene is used in many processes. Significant benzene exposure sources include:

• Industrial emissions
• Motor vehicle exhaust emissions
• Lithography and painting
• Burning oil and coal
• Chemicals utilized to make synthetic fibers, nylons, resins and plastics
• Dry cleaning
• The manufacturing of some products, like drugs, pesticides, detergents, dyes and lubricants

Benzene can be found in a lot of locations, such as:

• Near gas service stations
• Near waste sites
• Auto garages
• Near industrial processing plants
• Near factories

Certain drugs may be contaminated with benzene, according to an FDA alert entitled, “FDA alerts drug manufacturers to the risk of benzene contamination in certain drugs.”

Firefighters and those working in related industries may be exposed to benzene, which is produced by forest fires.

Who Is Most At-Risk for Exposure to Benzene?

Those who work the following jobs might have a high risk of being exposed to dangerous levels of benzene:

Who Qualifies for a Benzene Lawsuit?

You may qualify to file a benzene lawsuit if you have been exposed to benzene and have been diagnosed with any of the following:

• Acute myeloid leukemia / acute myelogenous leukemia (AML)
• Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic myeloid leukemia / chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML)
• Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)
• Aplastic anemia
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)
• Multiple myeloma

Call us today for a free consultation if you have been diagnosed with any of the above conditions and have been exposed to benzene.

Benzene Regulations in the US

Benzene exposure and levels are regulated by several government agencies.

Benzene exposure in the air is limited by OSHA to 1 part per million over the course of an average workday, and 5 parts per million over 15 minutes. Employers are required to provide personal protective equipment like respirators when workers are possibly exposed to higher levels.

No more than 0.62 percent of benzene is allowed in gasoline over the course of a year, and the EPA regulates this. Gasoline cannot, at any time, have more than 1.3 percent benzene in it.

The EPA regulates benzene in drinking water, limiting it to five parts per billion. The limit is the same for bottled water – bottled water is regulated by the FDA.

Any product which has five percent or more of benzene in it needs special labeling – this is regulated by the CPSC.

Tips to Limit Your Benzene Exposure

• Carefully pump gas and utilize gas stations which have vapor recovery systems which capture fumes. Don’t let gasoline contact your skin.
• Avoid cigarette smoke. Try quitting if you smoke. Avoid secondhand smoke.
• Limit how much time you spend around idling car engines. Exhaust fumes contain benzene.
• Avoid or limit exposure to fumes from art supplies, paints and solvents, especially in spaces which are unventilated.
• Talk with your employer about limiting benzene exposure if you work where benzene is. Changes can include replacing benzene with other solvents, enclosing sources of benzene, and using personal protective equipment. You can also contact OSHA if needed – they can provide additional assistance or information.

Is Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers Filing a Benzene Class Action Lawsuit?

We are not filing a class action lawsuit over benzene. We are, instead, filing individual lawsuits on behalf of those who have been diagnosed with cancer after being exposed to benzene.

We believe that our clients can recover far more compensation for their injuries by filing individual lawsuits than by joining a class action lawsuit.

Call us today for a free consultation if you would like to file a lawsuit over your benzene exposure, or if you are unsure whether filing an individual lawsuit or joining a class action lawsuit is the best path forward for you.

Can You Sue for Benzene Exposure?

You can sue over exposure to benzene if you believe the chemical contributed to or caused an illness.

• Numerous parties can be sued over benzene exposure, including:
• Those who manufacture products which contain benzene
• Independent contractors
• Employers
• Benzene distributors and suppliers
• Premises owners who allow products containing benzene to be used

If you are thinking about filing a lawsuit, call us today for a free consultation. We can advise you regarding your legal rights and help build a strong case for you. Factors you should consider include:

• Evidence that you were exposed, including documentation such as occupational history and medical records.
• The statute of limitations, or the time limit you have to file a claim. This will vary from state to state. For example, in California, the time limit is two years from the date you became aware that you had an illness and that the illness was caused by benzene.

Contact a Benzene Lawyer Today

Call us today for a free case evaluation if you or a loved one developed cancer after being exposed to benzene. We can help you recover financial compensation for wrongful death, pain, suffering, loss of earning capacity, lost wages, medical bills and more.

Remember: we’ve been handling cases just like yours for over 30 years, have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients, and won’t charge you any fee until and unless we recover financial compensation on your behalf.

Call us today.