Benzene Lawsuit

Benzene is a cancer-causing chemical that has been found in sunscreen sprays, antifungal foot sprays, and deodorant sprays. Long-term exposure to benzene is linked to leukemia and other blood related diseases.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting benzene induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was exposed to benzene and developed cancer, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Toxic Chemical Exposure Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

High Levels of Benzene Found in BPO Acne Creams

In March 2024, dozens of acne creams, lotions, and other Benzoyl Peroxide (BPO) acne products tested positive for high levels of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical. Benzene levels increased dramatically when BPO acne products were stored at high temperatures, like a hot car or bathroom. Benzene gas was also released through unopened packages into the air.

Spray Products Recalled for Benzene Contamination

In recent years, dozens of spray products have been recalled for benzene contamination. Benzene is not an ingredient that was added to the products, but rather an impurity in the propellant that sprays the product out of the can.

Some of these recalled products include:

Benzene Lawsuit Filed Against Goodrich Tire

In June 2016, a benzene lawsuit was filed against B.F. Goodrich by 112 residents of Miami, Oklahoma who say the tire company dumped benzene in the groundwater and failed to warn them of the potential health hazards. Click here to read more.

Auto Mechanic Files Benzene Cancer Lawsuit

An auto mechanic with cancer (multiple myeloma) has filed a lawsuit against BP, ExxonMobil, and a dozen other companies that sell gasoline, solvents, paint, and other products. He accuses them of failing to warn about the health hazards of benzene in their products. The lawsuit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court in Illinois — Case No. 2016-L001056.

Types of Cancer Linked to Benzene

Long-term exposure to high levels of benzene in the air can cause leukemia. Benzene is associated with the following types of cancer:

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)
Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
Multiple Myeloma
Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Aplastic Anemia
Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
Blood cancers
Childhood leukemia
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
Hairy Cell Leukemia
Hematologic cancer
Myelofibrosis and Myeloid Metaplasia

What Products Contain Benzene?

Benzene is commonly found in adhesives, asphalts, calibrating fluid, charcoal lighter fluid, cigarette lighter fluid, contact cements, gasoline, glues, kerosene, hydraulic fluids, inks and ink markers, lacquer thinner, pesticides, processing film, rubber cement, solvents, and vinyl thinner.

Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke, and a component or contaminant in numerous industrial and consumer products. Other commonly used products have been found to contain Benzene such as glues, cleaning products, detergents, art supplies, paint strippers.

Occupational Exposure to Benzene

Workers in industries that use or make Benzene are at a greater risk of developing leukemia or other blood related diseases. The following are at a higher occupational risk of Benzene exposure:

Auto mechanics
Painters
Chemical workers
Shoe/leather workers
Rubber workers
Printers
Paper workers
Pulp manufacturing workers
Adhesive production workers
Newspaper press workers

Benzene in the Environment

Benzene can occur naturally in the environment if there are great deals of carbon based materials that have burned but have not burned completely. Naturally occurring benzene is released from soil, water, and incompletely combusted substances into the air where it is broken down quickly by other chemicals.

Cigarette smoke, gasoline emissions, automobile exhaust, and automobile service stations also contribute to Benzene released into the environment. Industrial processes can lead to environmental contamination as they carelessly release Benzene into the air and ground water. Experts estimate that there are over 100,000 sites of industrial benzene contamination in the United States alone.

St. Louis Benzene Lawsuits

Lawyers in the city of St. Louis, Missouri have filed lawsuits for many people who were diagnosed with leukemia from benzene exposure. Most of these lawsuits involve emissions from the Wood River Refinery in Roxana, Illinois, just a few miles away from St. Louis.

For example, one lawsuit was filed on behalf of Derrick Dean Coffman, a man who died of leukemia after living near Wood River refineries from 1999-2004 — Case No. 12-L-2083.Another lawsuit was filed by Jack Brown, a man with leukemia who lived near the refinery from 1968-1986. He also worked for the Roxana School District as a mechanic and bus driver — Case No. 11-L-1008.

Toxic Chemicals Linked to Decades of Brain Damage

The journal Neurology has published research suggesting that a lifetime of workplace exposure to benzene and other toxic chemicals is associated with decades of cognitive impairment, reduced memory, and other problems.

Conclusions were based on data from over 2,100 public utility workers in France. The study was published in May 2014 by researchers from the Harvard School of Public Health. Click here to read more.

Do I Have a Benzene Lawsuit?

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