BENZENE
FACT SHEET ON A DRINKING WATER CHEMICAL CONTAMINANT
GENERAL INFORMATION
Synonyms;
•	None
Chemical Description:
•	Volatile organic compound
Properties:
•	Highly flammable liquid with an aromatic odor
•	Nearly colorless
•	Relatively sotuDis in water and mixes well with a
variety of organic solvents
•	vapors three Times Heavier than air
Production and Use:
•	Produced in large amounts mainly for production of
other compounds such as styrene. synthetic ruober.
phenol, aikyiamesuifonate detergent, nitrobenzene
(aniline), and cycionexane; also produced Indirectly
in large volumes, such as during gasoline refining
and in low volumes in a number of biological
processes
•	Component of petroleum
•	Addea to gasoline to increase octane
ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE
Occurrence:
•	Occurs in drinking water, food, and air
•	Occurs in ground water and surface public water
supplies with higher levels in ground water
•	Found as a naturally occurring compound at parts
per billion (ppo) levels in a large number of foods
•	Found in urban and suburban air, generally at
average levels less than 10 ppb: hoi been reported
to occur in indoor air at levels higher than those
found outdoors
Mmms;
•	Releases to the environment are primarily to air, wtm
smaller amounts to water and soil
•	Releases to water are mamty due to spills of gasoline
ana other petroleum products and from use as a
solvent
Environmental Fate:
•	When released to surface water, it rapidly evaporates
to air
•	When released to the ground, it binds to some degree
with soil and slowly migrates to ground water
•	Degrades rapidly in air with a half life less men one
day
•	Blodegrades poorly in water and is expected to
remain stable in ground water
HEALTH EFFECTS
Humans:
•	Acute exposure to high levels of benzene produces
primarily central nervous system (CMS) effects and
death; at non-lethal levels, mild CMS effects appear
to be concentration dependent ana rapidly revers-
ible: also causes immune system depression and
Done marrow toxicity leading to aplastic anemia;
lower levels do not seem to eiicst these etects no
matter how long the exposure
•	Has caused chromosomal aberrations (mutagenic
effects) -n exoosed workers
•	Causes various kinds of leukemia
•	Benzene is classified as a group A carcncger, a
human carcinogen, based on epidemiological stud-
ies showing a causal association between oenzene
exposure and cancer
Experimented Animals;
•	Rats orally exposed for 52 weete—Zymoai gland
tumors, skin cancer, and leukemia
•	Variety of mammals exposed by inhalation for! 2-15
days—anemia
« Dogs exposed by inhalation at 600* i .000 pom for 12
to 15 days—reduced wnrte blood ceils
•	No reproductive effects, but potent growtn .nnibitor
in utero
' • Not mutagenic in bacterial systems citr.ougn trie
metabolite, benzene oxiae. is mutagenic

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REGULATORY HISTORY
ANALYTICAL METHODS
Existing Standards:
•	Clean Air Act (CAA): Registered
•	Clean Watef Act (CWA): Reportable quantify 1,000
pounds
•	Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA):
Listed for ground-water monitoring
•	Superfund (CERCLA): Reportable Quantity 10
pounds
« SARA: Registerec
•	Federal insecticide, Fungicide, aid Rodentlcide
Act (FIFRA): Not availaoie
•	Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA): On Inventory
HEALTH INFORMATION
Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLG):
•	Non-enforceobie ieveis based solely on an evaluation
of possible health risks and exposure, and taking into
consideration a margin for public safety
•	Set at zero for cancer causing chemicals in water
MCLG for Benzene - 0 mg/l
Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL):
•	Legally enforceable levelsforcontaminants in public
drinking water supplies
•	Based on' health risks associated with the
contaminants in public drinking water supplies
MCL for Benzene » 0.005 mg/L
EPA Health Advisories (HA):
•	Short-term HAs: Provide acceptable concentrations
of contaminants in water for up to 10 day exposures,
primarily to evaluate the public health risk resulting
from an accidental spili or an emergency
contamination situation
•	Longer-term HAs: Provide guidance for persistent
water contamination situations to cover a period of
up to 7 years
•	Lifetime HAs: Derived In the same way as an MCLG
•	Gas chromatogrcDhy
EPA Method 502
WATER TREATMENT
Permanent Treatment:
Best Available Technology (BAT):
-	granular activated ccroon acsorption
-	air stripping
-	boiling
SHORT-TERM HAZARD ELIMINATION
•	If the drinking water standards are exceeded, install
BAT or use an alternative drinking water supply such
as bottled water
•	Boiling for 10 minutes effectively removes 99% of
benzene originally present—potential inhalation
hazard
ADDITIONAL HELP
•	State or county health officials can indicate a certified
laboratory for testing
•	Experts in the state Department of Environmental
Protection or Natural Resources may also oe of hesp
•	The EPA has toll-free numbers for further information
on drinking water quality, treatment tecnnciogies,
for obtaining Health Advisories, and for orner
regulatory information
•	EPA Hotlines ore available Monday through Friday,
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST:
• Safe Drinking Water: 800-426-4791
•Air Quality:	800-631-2700
•National Pesticides: 800-858-PEST
•Superfund/RCRA: 800-424-9346
800-343-3958
•	For information on the Clean Water Act, call (202)
260-7301
•	For information on the Toxic Substances Control Act,
call (202) 554-1404
Short-term HA for a child • 0.235 mg/l
Longer-term HA* ¦ Not determined

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