Aromatics Online: Frequently asked Questions Benzene

Frequently asked Questions
Benzene

4. What is benzene?

Benzene is a liquid composed of 6 carbon atoms and 6 hydrogen atoms, configured in a ring shape. It is one of the most important feedstocks for the chemical industry, used for the manufacture of a wide range of everyday items, and is not itself used directly by consumers. For more on benzene uses, see: What is benzene used for?

5. What is benzene used for?
Benzene is a very important raw material for the manufacture of a large number of other chemicals (intermediates), used in turn to produce a wide range of products. These include common consumer goods such as pharmaceuticals, TV casings, personal computers, refrigerators, tyres, draining asphalts, food packaging, office and sport equipment, automotive and aircraft components, insulating materials, paints, cosmetics, home care products, etc. That is putting it in a nutshell; for more, see Aromatics in everyday life.

6. Are consumers exposed to benzene?
The general public is commonly not exposed to benzene, except for extremely minute amounts from a variety of sources, such as city traffic, open fires and smoking (both active and passive), car refuelling and travelling in a vehicle. Trace amounts of benzene are also detectable in food, as a result of certain type of cooking (e.g. barbecue and grilling).

The overall exposure of an individual to benzene is unique to that individual, since it is dependent on his/her life-style and daily activities, as well as the levels of benzene exposure associated with each of these. In rural areas, for the reasons explained above, exposures are far lower than those found in the cities.

As for the benzene produced by our members, i.e. aromatics producers in Europe, it should be remembered that it is not a consumer product. All the benzene produced by our members is transformed into other chemicals in the processes described above. Once converted into consumer goods the amount of residual benzene is virtually non-existent, as is indeed requested by international regulations, which prohibit the sale of consumer goods containing benzene.

Furthermore, all products derived from benzene are very strictly monitored and regulated by the regulating authorities, who can count on the collaboration of the industry itself, which usually applies even more stringent standards to protect the consumer from any risk.

7. Do workers run risks when handling benzene?
Rules for protecting workers handling benzene are extremely strict.
When assessing the health risk of a substance, it is important to consider two criteria: the level of exposure and the degree of hazard. In the case of benzene, the rules for working places are very strict. Because benzene is volatile, inhalation is the major route of exposure. National and international standards seek to limit this exposure by imposing strict occupational exposure limits; the European Commission imposes a limit of 1 ppm ("part per million", or, in other words, 3.25 milligrams per cubic meter. Industry standards are usually more stringent than this, and often include occupational monitoring programmes to confirm that workplace controls and practices are as safe as possible.

8. Are there risks for the health?
Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene vapour in the workplace has been associated with damage to the bone marrow and a low incidence of a specific form of blood cancer. According to our current state of knowledge, today’s controls and working practices provide very good protection against the development of these diseases.

The amount of benzene in the open air is many times lower than the high levels just mentioned, but its presence is nevertheless closely monitored. The European Commission is developing an “air quality standard” (AQS) for benzene. This represents a background (or “ambient”) concentration of benzene in town or country air which is believed to present no risk to health.

The final value of the benzene "AQS" has been fixed by the European Commission at 5 microgrammes/cubic meter. This value is very small because the authorities want to be absolutely sure that there is no risk to the public associated with background exposure to benzene. The aromatics industry was fully supportive of the development of an AQS for benzene.

It should be remembered that zero-risk products, whether natural or man-made, do not exist. Even common, over-the-counter pain-killers, for example, have to be taken following strict precautions, such as not exceeding a certain dose, or not ingesting them on an empty stomach. This is what "managing the risks" means.

9. Why is there benzene in gasoline? What about “clean fuels”?
Benzene is a natural component of crude oil, from which gasoline is produced after refining. Industry has taken significant steps to reduce the level of benzene by adapting its formulation of gasoline. Furthermore, industry is upgrading the excess benzene from gasoline into valuable products, such as medical devices, food packaging, auto parts and nylon fibres.

Automotive fuel quality plays an important role in determining the nature and quantity of pollutants emitted by motor vehicles. Cleaner fuels can significantly reduce this source of air pollution.

With the Clean Fuels Directive, the benzene content in the gasoline has been reduced from 5% to 1% as per 1 January 2000, which will have a significant, positive impact on the consumer’s exposure during car refuelling. The European Commission has already fixed further, more stringent standards like the total aromatics content, to be reduced in the gasoline from 42% to 35% by January 1st 2005 at latest.

10. Is benzene transportation safe?
Benzene transport is mainly carried out by sea or inland waterways, and is subject to a number of international guidelines for safe handling of cargoes. In Europe and the USA, ships used for benzene transport meet rigorous standards that exceed those prescribed by the European or American authorities. This forms part of our voluntary commitment to the responsible handling and transport of benzene.

For more details on the regulations governing chemicals transport, and indeed on the industry initiatives to minimise all risks related to it, click here.

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