Health Encyclopedia

Benzene ingestion

Definition

Benzene is a clear liquid chemical that has a sweet smell. Benzene poisoning occurs when someone swallows, breathes in, or touches benzene.

Poisonous Ingredient

Benzene

Where Found

Additives to gasoline and other fuels
Many industrial solvents
Various paint, lacquer, and varnish removers

Note: This list may not include all uses for benzene.

Symptoms

Eyes, ears, nose, and throat
- Blurred vision
Gastrointestinal
Heart and blood
- Irregular heartbeat
Lungs and chest
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Tight chest
Nervous system
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Nervousness
- Convulsions
- Euphoria (feeling of being drunk)
- Headache
- Staggering
- Tremors
- Unconsciousness
- Weakness
Skin
- Pale skin
- Small red dots on skin

Home Treatment

Seek immediate medical help. Do NOT make a person throw up unless told to do so by Poison Control or a health care professional.

If the chemical is on the skin or in the eyes, flush with lots of water for at least 15 minutes.

If the chemical was swallowed, immediately give the person water or milk, unless instructed otherwise by a health care provider. Do NOT give water or milk if the patient is having symptoms (such as vomiting, convulsions, or a decreased level of alertness) that make it hard to swallow.

If the person breathed in the poison, immediately move him or her to fresh air.

Before Calling Emergency

Determine the following information:

Patient's age, weight, and condition
Name of the product (ingredients and strengths, if known)
Time it was swallowed
Amount swallowed

Poison Control, or a local emergency number

The National Poison Control Center (1-800-222-1222) can be called from anywhere in the United States. This national hotline number will let you talk to experts in poisoning. They will give you further instructions.

This is a free and confidential service. All local poison control centers in the United States use this national number. You should call if you have any questions about poisoning or poison prevention. It does NOT need to be an emergency. You can call for any reason, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

See: Poison control center - emergency number

What to expect at the emergency room

The health care provider will measure and monitor your vital signs, including temperature, pulse, breathing rate, and blood pressure. Symptoms will be treated as appropriate. You may receive:

Breathing tube
Endoscopy -- camera down the throat to see burns in the esophagus and the stomach
Fluids by IV
Oxygen
Medicines to treat an allergic reaction (diphenhydramine, prednisone)
Tube through the mouth into the stomach to wash out the stomach (gastric lavage)
Washing of the skin (irrigation) -- perhaps every few hours for several days

You may be admitted to the hospital if the poisoning is severe.

Expectations (prognosis)

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:2/27/2008
Reviewed By:Stephen C. Acosta, MD, Department of Emergency Medicine, Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

ADAM Quality A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) and this website do not claim the information on, or referred to by, this site is error free. This site may include links to websites of other government agencies or private groups. Our Agency and this website do not control such sites and are not responsible for their content. Reference to or links to any other group, product, service, or information does not mean our Agency or this website approves of that group, product, service, or information.

Additionally, while health information provided through this website may be a valuable resource for the public, it is not designed to offer medical advice. Talk with your doctor about medical care questions you may have.