Key Points

Fire

• Highly flammable volatile liquid
• Vapour/air mixtures may be explosive
• In the event of a fire involving benzene, use normal foam and wear liquid tight clothing and breathing apparatus

Health

• Toxic by inhalation and ingestion
• Harmful and irritant
• Carcinogen and possible mutagen
• Short term exposure to low levels can be irritating to eyes and can result in drowsiness, rapid heart rate, headaches, tremors, confusion and unconsciousness
• Long term exposure to low levels can cause onset of a range of diseases including cancer
• Exposure to high levels may result in death
• Benzene can cause leukaemia (a type of blood cancer)
• It is not known if benzene can cause damage to the unborn child

Environment

• Avoid release into the environment
• Inform Environment Agency of substantial release incidents

 

All sections are available to download in PDF format below:

• Benzene - Full Document (PDF, 173 KB)
• General Information (PDF, 50 KB)
• Incident Management (PDF, 95 KB)
• Toxicological Overview (PDF, 57 KB)

Background

Prepared by R P Chilcott
CHAPD HQ, HPA
2007
Version 2

This document will be reviewed not later than 3 years, or sooner if substantive evidence becomes available.