Tuesday, February 8, 2011

What health effects are expected from exposure to BTEX?

Exposure to humans can occur by either ingestion (drinking water from contaminated wells), or by inhalation (exposure to BTEX contaminated water via showering or laundering).  Acute exposure to gasoline and its components Technical Bulletin - Health Effects Information

BTEX aka benzene, toluene, and xylenes has been associated with skin and sensory irritation, central nervous system depression, and effects on the respiratory system. 
Prolonged exposure to these compounds also affects these organs as well as the kidney, liver and blood systems.  According to the EPA, there is sufficient evidence from both human epidemiological and animal studies that benzene is a human carcinogen.  Workers exposed to high levels of benzene in occupational settings were found to have an increase in leukemia

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