Benzene is a naturally occurring chemical compound that is contained in crude oil and other petroleum products. It is clear, sweet smelling, and highly flammable. Like asbestos, benzene is a carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substance long known to be dangerous, but because of its sufficient value in industrial applications, it is still in use today. Benzene exposure is a well-established health risk, and there is no acceptably safe level of exposure. The Madeksho Law Firm in Houston, Texas is your best resource for an expert benzene exposure lawyer who can help you obtain damages if you or someone you love has fallen ill after being exposed to benzene.
During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, before benzene exposure was known to be dangerous, benzene was used as an after-shave because of its sweet smell. It was also used as an industrial solvent to degrease engines, and to decaffeinate coffee. As a fuel additive, benzene increases the octane of gasoline, and it was used for this purpose until the 1950s.
Since benzene was so widely used, it was not long before the health risks of benzene exposure became obvious and its use was scaled back or discontinued in most areas. Today, benzene is strictly controlled in the United States, but it is still instrumental in the production of plastics, adhesives, dyes, detergents, pharmaceuticals, explosives, and pesticides.
Workers who experience an illness related to benzene exposure can call on a lawyer from the Madeksho Law Firm to represent them when seeking compensation for damages. Your benzene exposure lawyer will be able to help you assemble a strong case in order to get maximum possible compensation as quickly as possible.
Benzene exposure can have a significant affect on one’s health, but the most serious condition it can cause is acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – cancer of the blood and bone marrow. AML causes bone marrow damage, impacting blood cell production and causing anemia and immunodeficiency. AML is sometimes treatable with chemotherapy, and some patients may benefit from a procedure known as a hematopoietic stem cell transplant, but, at this point, the majority of treatments are unsuccessful.
Benzene is also thought to cause a variety of reproductive problems, and has been linked to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – a cancer of the lymphatic system. It is also implicated in myelodysplastic syndrome (a blood cell deficiency) and aplastic anemia.
In spite of rigid safety controls and strict exposure limits, individuals who work with benzene are at an elevated risk of developing these health problems. If severe benzene exposure occurs, the risk is exacerbated. A Houston, Texas benzene exposure lawyer from our firm can help these individuals obtain compensation from employers and other responsible parties for medical expenses, the cost of ongoing care, lost wages, and more.
Though benzene use is significantly limited today, the chemical is no less hazardous, and many individuals continue to suffer the effects of benzene exposure. If you live in the Houston, Texas area and wish to speak with a benzene exposure lawyer about a potential claim, please contact the Madeksho Law Firm.
Contact the Madeksho Law Firm in Houston, Texas to speak with a benzene exposure lawyer about your legal options.
Contact the Madeksho Law Firm, specializing in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation, to speak with our lawyers about your case. Our consultations are free, and we serve asbestos victims nationwide.