Benzene ingestion

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How well you do depends on the amount of poison swallowed and how quickly treatment is received. The faster you get medical help, the better the chance for recovery.

Benzene is very poisonous. Poisoning can cause rapid death. However, deaths have occurred as late as 3 days after the poisoning. This happens because:

• Permanent brain damage occurs
• The heart stops (cardiac arrest)
• The lungs stop working (respiratory arrest)

People who have regular exposure to low levels of benzene can also become sick. The most common problems are blood diseases, including:

• Leukemia
• Lymphoma
• Severe anemia

People who work with benzene products should only do so in areas with good air flow. They should also use protective gloves and eye glasses.

Review Date: 01/27/2010
Reviewed By: Jacob L. Heller, MD, MHA, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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