Benzene Exposure in North Carolina: The Shocking Truth

Audrey Snyder | | Dangerous Products

Though benzene is one of the top 20 chemicals produced in our country, it is not often heard of or discussed. What most people do not realize is that this common chemical solvent has been linked to blood cancers such as leukemia and other devastating health effects. After being exposed to benzene at workplaces in North Carolina and across the country, people want to take action for the dangers they unknowingly faced. At Ward Black Law, we come alongside these individuals, serving as a powerful voice for their rights.

What is Benzene?

Benzene is a colorless chemical solvent that is widely used in manufacturing plants across America. Common exposure sites include:

  • Chemical plants
  • Tire manufacturing companies
  • Steel industries
  • Printing companies
  • Shoe manufacturing companies
  • Fire stations
  • Gas stations
  • Laboratories

How are workers exposed?

Workers who are now facing health effects from benzene exposure likely breathed in the vapors over a period of time. Some may have come into direct contact with the chemical, allowing it to penetrate the skin and enter the bloodstream. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, as many as 238,000 people may have been occupationally exposed to benzene in the United States.

What are the signs of Benzene exposure?

Benzene primarily causes problems in the blood. If you have breathed in benzene vapors for a period of time, you may experience harmful effects in the tissues that form blood cells, including bone marrow. As this occurs, anemia and other immune disorders may develop. Excessive exposure to benzene can result in cancers like Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), also known as Acute Myelogenous Leukemia. Any person with this kind of Leukemia who worked with or around solvents in North Carolina workplaces may be entitled to lost wages and medical bills by making a workers’ compensation claim.

Other signs and symptoms of benzene exposure may include:

  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Headaches
  • Tremors
  • Confusion
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Harm to the reproductive organs

Exposure Sites in North Carolina

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has found benzene in workplaces across North Carolina. A few of these sites include:

  • U.S. Marine Corps Camp Lejeune
  • Sigmon’s Septic Tank Service
  • Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station
  • Carolina Solite Corporation/Aquadale
  • Davis Park Road

If you or a loved one has Leukemia and has worked in one of these environments, or in an industry where benzene is commonly found, you may wish to learn more.

Pursuing Your Claim

Ward Black Law handles claims for people who have developed Leukemia or serious health issues after benzene exposure. If you worked in a manufacturing plant where this dangerous chemical was used, contact us today. We can look at every angle of your case, and help you pursue the outcome you need for recovery. Based in Greensboro, N.C., Ward Black Law has years of experience in dangerous products litigation. Our Benzene exposure lawyers can provide a free, confidential case review, so call us toll-free at 1-336-502-6208 or email for more information.

Author: Audrey Snyder

Audrey Snyder is an attorney supporting the firm in the areas of injury claims, including defective products, occupational diseases, and workers’ compensation. She began working with Ward Black Law late in 2017 as a contract attorney and formally joined the team in the spring of 2018.  She engages her passion for helping the defenseless and has a desire to “stand up for the little guy.”