Comparison of aneuploidies of chromosomes 21, X, and Y in the blood lymphocytes and sperm of workers exposed to benzene. Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure of humans to benzene may cause drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, as well as eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation, and, at high levels . Benzene emissions spiked to abnormally high and potentially dangerous levels for more than two weeks after nearby residents were told it was safe to return to school and work, according to a Texas Tribune analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air-monitoring data. Data from TCEQ's stationary and handheld monitors also indicated elevated benzene concentrations near the same times and locations as the EPA's mobile lab. Because of the dangerousness of the substance, various state departments, including the EPA, DHHS, and OSHA,regulate the presence of benzenein a variety of contexts. A few hours later, around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, two people working on cleanup operations at the ITC plant became ill and went home. 1," Mayor Mouton said that day at another press conference. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you're on a federal government site. Accessed at https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=38&toxid=14 on January 25, 2023. A: The health consequences of benzene exposure depend on the amount, route, and length of time of exposure, as well as age and preexisting medical conditions. Search, Browse Law As one of the most commonly-made chemicals in the United States, benzene is often used to make many other chemicals. "With possible catastrophic consequences if we failed.". Yet throughout the area that day, residents from Deer Park and surrounding cities swarmed the pop-up county health clinics complaining of eye, ear, nose and throat irritation, severe headaches and trouble breathing. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning, 2023 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. ", High levels of benzene detected for two weeks after the ITC fire. The most frequent symptoms were headache, throat irritation, nausea, coughing, dizziness and vomiting. In a statement to the Tribune, the EPA said that when benzene readings topped the 1,000 parts per billion threshold in neighborhoods for at least a minute, Unified Command directed air quality inspectors to the area to take more measurements and confirm whether the concentrations were expected to linger in the area. Then, you should speak with a toxic torts lawyer. The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of ourcontributing authors. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo assured the public during a press conference that afternoon that the county was using "very conservative estimates to determine the threshold of dangerous levels of air quality.". Federal Register. But she added that it would be difficult to determine for sure. Benzene really shouldnt be there at all, he said. Published by Statista Research Department , Mar 24, 2023. Anita Desikan, one of the authors of a December 2022 study of the ITC fire and a senior analyst for the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, said the action level used during the ITC incident was "out of line with basically every other measure I've seen [for] benzene. In a written statement, Pablo Sanchez-Soria, a senior toxicologist at CTEH, said that using short time frames to measure benzene levels - in this case one minute in the community - help officials "take early action" to reduce human exposure. Schools canceled classes again, this time for one day. ", "They are striking concentrations of benzene," Shonkoff said. Almost 1,000 people swarmed to temporary mobile health clinics in Deer Park that operated for three days after the fire started, and Texas Poison Center Network records show its hotline received almost 200 calls reporting chemical exposure from the ITC fire over a more than two-week period. Breathing in high doses of benzene can affect the nervous system, which can lead to drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, tremors, confusion, and/or unconsciousness. In extreme cases, inhaling or swallowing very high levels of benzene can be deadly. FDA has been in communication with USP about removing (or omitting) those carbomer monographs from their compendium since late 2020. Throughout the response, a plane brought in by the EPA flew above the fire and the plume, monitoring the air and providing eyes from above, while TCEQ and Harris County employees on the ground recorded benzene levels on hand-held air monitors, in addition to CTEH's monitoring efforts for the city and company. If you feel like there's been a lot of concerning sunscreen news lately, you're not imagining it. Then another tank collapsed. The petroleum-based chemical causes cancer, especially leukemia and in blood forming organs, the US Department of Health and Human Services wrote. The chatty little boy - who told a doctor that his breathing problems felt like "bugs getting in my nose, like little tiny worms" clogging his nostrils and lungs - is now wary of playing outside at playgrounds, his father says. They reopened state Highway 225, which borders the cluster of petrochemical plants and is residents' main route to drive into Houston for work. American Cancer Society medical information is copyrightedmaterial. Air toxics include benzene and other hydrocarbons such as 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, and naphthalene. "ITC cares," she said, as her eyes filled with tears. (More on that, below.). Areas with heavy traffic, gas stations, and areas near industrial sources may also have higher air levels. FindLaw.com Free, trusted legal information for consumers and legal professionals, SuperLawyers.com Directory of U.S. attorneys with the exclusive Super Lawyers rating, Abogado.com The #1 Spanish-language legal website for consumers, LawInfo.com Nationwide attorney directory and legal consumer resources. The lab, Valisure, last year detected benzene in hand sanitizers, sunscreens, deodorant, dry shampoos, conditioners, antiperspirants, deodorants, body sprays and anti-fungal treatments. As FDA works to better understand the potential sources of benzene in drugs, FDA reminds manufacturers of drugs marketed under approved applications and manufacturers of other drugs, including over-the-counter monograph drug products, of their obligation to ensure their products conform to appropriate quality specifications. Benzene is commonly found in air, but the levels in most places are usually very low. People can be exposed to benzene from gasoline fumes, automobile exhaust, emissions from some factories, and wastewater from certain industries. Some experts who study benzene said the spikes that wafted through Deer Park and the surrounding areas over that two and a half week period could increase residents' risk of cancer, but others said it was unlikely. The fire prompted Deer Park officials to advise residents to shelter in place that Sunday. Procter & Gamble, Bayer, CVS and Johnson & Johnson have issued voluntary recalls for widely distributed brands including Brut, Sure, Pantene, Herbal Essences, Old Spice, Secret, Tinactin, Lotrimin, Coppertone, Neutrogena and Aveeno. Rapid or irregular heartbeat. Sleepiness. In its report, Valisure argues that sunscreen production does not require benzene and that the FDA should "better define limits for benzene contamination in drug and cosmetic products." : 601-020-00-8 CAS-No. But Deer Park City Manager James Stokes said air monitoring readings looked "favorable" as the fire burned off the dangerous chemicals. For example, the report said Harris County Pollution Control, which has a special team to respond to fires involving hazardous materials and other chemical incidents, had meager staffing and "antiquated" or out-of-service equipment during the 2019 fire. Ochoa said he and his fellow workers were indeed concerned. "Based on our experience, the [1,000 parts per billion] action level for 1 minute for benzene across community areas was highly conservative," Sanchez-Soria said. Visit our attorney directory to find a lawyer near you who can help. Ingredients that are hydrocarbons or are manufactured with benzene or other hydrocarbons may indicate a higher likelihood of benzene contamination. Benzene is a chemical found in nature and manufactured products. A second shelter-in-place when benzene "rears its ugly head" - March 21-22, 2019. Provides references that aid in recognizing hazards and the health effects associated with benzene in the workplace. Places Where Benzene May Be Found. "To me, it's no joke," he said, adding that he worries about whether the fumes he breathed could increase his risk of cancer. The affected sunscreens: Neutrogena Beach Defense aerosol sunscreen, Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen, Neutrogena Invisible Daily defense aerosol sunscreen, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer aerosol sunscreen, and Aveeno Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen. Regardless of your skin type, skin tone, or ethnicity, sunscreen should still be a top priority for you year-round. Researchers try to determine if a substance causes cancer using 2 main types of studies: Often neither type of study provides conclusive evidence on its own, so researchers usually look at both human and lab-based studies when trying to figure out if something causes cancer. Subsequently, two other petitions were filed raising concerns about the level of benzene in spray sunscreens, spray antiperspirants, and other drug and cosmetic products. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The symptoms of acute benzene toxicity will show up anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours after exposure. Beyond the fact that any amount of benzene in sunscreens is concerning, 14 sunscreen samples actually tested above that 2 ppm threshold, containing between 2.78 and 6.26 ppm of benzene. The EPA data that the Tribune used for its analysis, which was originally obtained by the nonprofit Environmental Defense Fund, shows that benzene spiked above 1,000 parts per billion on at least seven different days after the second and last shelter-in-place advisory expired - although it's unclear from the data whether those spikes lasted for an average of one minute. How benzene is landing in products remains a bit of a mystery in some instances. (, "Post-market consumer testing may often be different from preliminary formula testing for any number of reasons or factors," says Dr. Shamban. In the end, officials decided that Deer Park and ITC would lead response efforts. While scientists have found that years of repeated exposure to benzene causes cancer, the long-term impact of being exposed to brief but high levels of benzene is less certain. She stopped along a highway median, opened her car door and threw up. Please try again. "I don't believe that most companies are trying to deceive the public or are overstating their potency, safety, or protection intentionally; however, there are some real failures within the systems that are cause for concern.". The high readings along the highway likely wouldn't have prompted a response, he said, because the benzene levels quickly dropped again. Long term exposure to benzene through inhalation, oral intake, and skin absorption may result in cancers such as leukemia and other blood disorders. Benzene is not an ingredient intentionally used in sunscreens, but the products on Valisure's list were found to be contaminated with benzene."Benzene is a chemical that, when activated with exposure to the skin, blood, or organs, can affect changes in your DNA that cause mutations for cancers," says Madhuri Chadha, M.D., founder of Dr. Madh Skin Solutions and radiologist currently working in . Spray sunblock and sun aftercare lotions. Independent testing has found hundreds of popular personal care items in the US to be contaminated with benzene, a highly carcinogenic chemical, prompting several big brands to voluntarily recall dozens of products in recent months. Drug Safety and Availability, Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts, Information about Nitrosamine Impurities in Medications, Food and Drug Administration Overdose Prevention Framework, Medication Errors Related to CDER-Regulated Drug Products, Postmarket Drug Safety Information for Patients and Providers, Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies | REMS, Multistate outbreak of fungal meningitis and other infections, Frequently Asked Questions on Benzene Contamination in Drugs, FDA Recalls Recalls, Market Withdrawals, & Safety Alerts, FDA updates on hand sanitizers consumers should not use, Sunscreen: How to Help Protect Your Skin from the Sun, FDA alerts drug manufacturers to the risk of benzene contamination in certain drugs. She then watched as the smoke plume settled above the mourning family during the funeral service. "It was a missed opportunity because [the data from the EPA's mobile lab] could've been used to inform some of the public health decisions, but it doesn't seem like it was.". Here's what you need to know about this news, including how to find out if your favorite sunscreen made the list of products containing benzene. Seven were now burning; the tanks contained naphtha, xylene, gas blendstock and pygas, a blend of chemicals that's rich in benzene. Extrapolated across the state as a whole, the benzene leakage from gas appliances is the equivalent of adding 60,000 passenger cars to the roadventing their exhaust directly into your kitchen. The products include the five-ounce cans o Copperton Pure & Simple SPF 50, Coppertone Pure & Simple Kids SPF 50, Coppertone Pure & Simple Baby SPF 50, Coppertone Sport Mineral SPF 50, according to the Today Show, in addition to the 1.6-ounce can of Coppertone Sport Spray SPF 50. Fire flared up again briefly in one of the tanks, which were melting from the heat. Manufacturers should generally not use benzene in the manufacture of drugs. Benzene can cause blood cancers like leukemia. They cant reliably show how much benzene youve been exposed to, nor can they predict possible health effects. He felt helpless. He glanced again at the fluttering orange windsocks. When possible, limit the time you spend near idling car engines. The following is a list of processes, products, activities, occupations, industries, and places wherein benzene can be found: Benzene overexposure is linked to the development of thefollowing symptoms: drowsiness, dizziness, rapid or irregular heartbeat, headaches, tremors, confusion, and unconsciousness. "I'm very proud to stand here as mayor and recognize all of the officials and volunteers who waited in line to take their turn to fight for our community," Mouton said. Johnson & Johnson didn't disclose exactly how much benzene was found in its sunscreens, but the company stated in its press release that "based on exposure modeling and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) framework, daily exposure to benzene in these aerosol sunscreen products at the levels detected in our testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences." It is not known if benzene exposure affects fertility in men. Harris County is also using a $1 million grant from the American Chemistry Council to create a new guide for emergency response to chemical disasters. (The bone marrow is where new blood cells are made.) Valisure is now petitioning for the Food and Drug Administration to recall the products on its list. Rodney Reed, an assistant chief at Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, said that each city, as well as multiple county agencies, have the authority to issue shelter-in-place advisories. FDA continues to monitor the quality of drugs and, when appropriate, encourages retailers to remove products from store shelves and online marketplaces when issues arise. And now, Johnson & Johnson is voluntarily recalling five of its Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreens some of which were mentioned in Valisure's report after their own internal testing found low levels of benzene in some samples of the products, according to a company press release. Hemminger, the former Deer Park official, said in an interview that the city only warned residents if emissions exceeded the "action level" within the city's boundaries and were expected to linger, based on weather forecasts and subsequent readings. The federal, state and local officials who formed a "Unified Command" near the ITC facility after the fire erupted had to choose a threshold on the spot because there's no accepted national standard for how much benzene in the air should be considered dangerous. With fire out, officials declare victory - March 20, 2019. Loren Hopkins, Chief Environmental Science Officer of Houston's health department, said she realized that when officials issue shelter-in-place advisories and nothing else, the message to the public is confusing: "It's all fine, up until all of the sudden it's terrible," she said. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy. Castiel, Ochoa's now 8-year-old son, struggles with sinus infections. Likewise, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sets a limit of 5 ppb in bottled water. Research. Shonkoff, the environmental health sciences researcher at UC Berkeley, called the levels of benzene recorded by the EPA's air monitoring that day "crazy" and "very high. The American Cancer Society offers programs and services to help you during and after cancer treatment. Contreras, now 62, said the doctor who saw her said her symptoms were caused by "high exposure to chemicals." There are still moments - often late into the night, when he remembers that week of the fire - when those same feelings of panic come flooding back through his mind. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reviewed air monitoring data from the incident and found that the concentrations of benzene exceeded what the agency considers safe - but did not believe they were high enough to cause widespread cases of cancer. Ash rained down on nearby neighborhoods. Q: What should manufacturers know about benzene in drugs? Based on animal and human evidence, several expert agencies have evaluated the cancer-causing potential of benzene. It's also found in all fossil fuels, and anytime you burn anything from a wood-burning fire to a candle you are exposed to benzene.". An official website of the United States government, : This can result in: There is also some evidence that long-term exposure to benzene might harm reproductive organs. The TCEQ referred the ITC case to Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office typically handles major industrial accidents. New Engl J Med. Light pointed to decades of research that has found no safe levels of benzene exposure because its so toxic at very low levels. Occupational exposure to benzene. The FDAs system really lacks independent review because it relies on companies to self report, Light said. It's notoriously challenging to determine whether cancer was caused by exposure to a specific chemical or pollutant. Drug manufacturers with a risk for benzene contamination should test their drugs accordingly and should not release any drug product batch that contains benzene above 2 ppm, consistent with the recommendations described in the ICH Q3C guidance. The operation turned to tamping down benzene emissions and emptying the chemicals from the ruptured tanks. FDA intends to issue guidance for manufacturers on recommended test methods and appropriate steps for manufacturers needing to modify their formulation or manufacturing process for a legally marketed drug product. The fire began after a tank's pump failed and began to leak naphtha, a highly flammable liquid. Benzene 71-43-2 Hazard Summary Benzene is found in the air from emissions from burning coal and oil, gasoline service stations, and motor vehicle exhaust. Or, they came too late for residents to take action. Now, Contreras is alert to strange odors in the air and watches for anything unusual at the nearby chemical plants - especially smoke. (For more information on the classification systems used by these agencies, see Determining if Something Is a Carcinogen andKnown and Probable Human Carcinogens.). Weve invested more than $5 billion in cancer research since 1946, all to find more and better treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve cancer patients quality of life. Since at least 2002, EPA and TCEQ inspectors had reported high emissions of benzene and other chemicals from that same area. It is absolutely critical that you do not delay. Fewer than 10 miles from where Guevara stood, firefighters rushed to the ITC facility and put their lives on the line in a war against the fire - fueled by 12.3 million gallons of highly flammable chemicals - that would burn for 64 hours straight. Deer Park resident Eddie Guevara, 19, was working a Sunday shift at a chemical plant in La Porte, a town just east of Deer Park, the day the ITC fire broke out. In such scenarios, the FDAs limit is two parts per million, but some products that provided no therapeutic advantage were found with levels as high as 21 ppm. The attorney general's office did not respond to requests for an interview. Benzene is highly volatile and exposure occurs mostly through inhalation. Still, the FDA lists benzene as a class one solvent, meaning that it should not be used in the manufacture of drug substances, excipients (substances added to drugs such as fillers or preservatives), and drug products, because "because of [it's] unacceptable toxicity" or "deleterious environmental effect." Facts About Benzene. Deer Park city officials lifted the shelter-in-place advisory at 5:30 a.m., stating no air quality readings had exceeded "action levels." We continually gain additional knowledge about drugs which allows us to identify and quickly address previously unknown risks to consumers. "There's confusion and misinformation about sunscreen that unfortunately has led to growing skepticism and a general fear factor that sunscreens are dangerous when in fact not using them is more dangerous," says dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D. In particular, FDA has also discussed with manufacturers the need for a special focus on ingredients that are hydrocarbons or are manufactured with benzene or other hydrocarbons. One of the readings occurred two blocks south of the elementary school, in a neighborhood near the intersection of East San Augustine Street and East Boulevard. "Do you have anything that you can cover up with?" Medical professionals useseveral teststo determine whether you've been overexposed to benzene, each of which measures benzene levels in your blood, breath, or urine. Application holders notified of benzene results from the manufacturer of an API used in their product are required to submit FARs. Though spray-on sunscreen was found to be contaminated most frequently, the chemical was also detected in lotions and gels. An analysis of air quality data from a TCEQ's stationary Deer Park monitor southwest of City Hall shows that benzene emissions had risen early that morning to 61 parts per billion in an hour. They could smell the chemicals in the air. Q: Is benzene in drugs a new problem? However, most studies in people have not found an increased risk of cancers other than leukemia among those with higher exposures. Meanwhile, a portion of a dike wall surrounding the tank farm collapsed, sending petrochemicals, firefighting foam and contaminated water gushing into Tucker Bayou. ", At a March 26 press conference - nine days after the fire started - an EPA official said the agency would "get it out to the community to take action" if it detected benzene levels above that level. While benzene levels continued to spike near the ITC facility, neighboring chemical plants were warned to shelter in place Friday afternoon - the nearby community was not. "We are monitoring the air continuously, and there's nothing that's even come close to registering any kind of action item.". Cancer.org is provided courtesy of the Leo and Gloria Rosen family. ", "Benzene is associated with cancer usually after long durations (decades) of exposure," DSHS spokesperson Lara Anton said in a statement. At the ITC tank farm, the fire was out, but a new danger emerged. These include the rubber industry, oil refineries, chemical plants, shoe manufacturers, and gasoline-related industries. This voluntary recall is being conducted out of an abundance of caution.. This alert has resulted in, among other things, several recent recalls of drugs containing unacceptable levels of benzene. As FDA works to better understand the potential sources of benzene in drugs, FDA reminds manufacturers of drugs marketed under approved applications and manufacturers of other drugs, including over-the-counter monograph drug products, of their obligation to ensure their products conform to appropriate quality specifications. The first lasted 18 hours immediately after the fire broke out, and the second came three days later when air monitoring detected extremely high levels of benzene - an invisible, sweet-smelling hydrocarbon often found in crude oil and cigarettes. Benzene in soft drinks is of potential concern due to the carcinogenic nature of the molecule. Locals say they love their community - where block after block of single-family homes are surrounded by lush yards - because it's quiet, safe and has great schools. Castiel kept waking Ochoa up with "horrible and terrifying" snoring. Benzene drifted for miles through the community. A low blood platelet count, which can lead to excess bruising and bleeding. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely. Exposures to benzene are addressed in specific OSHA standards for general industry, maritime, and construction. If any drug product batches with benzene above 2 ppm are already in distribution, the manufacturer should contact FDA to discuss the voluntary initiation of a recall by contacting the appropriate Division of Pharmaceutical Quality Operations in the Office of Regulatory Affairs. That's when he first saw the smoke coming from the ITC tank farm. It wasn't the first sign of trouble: Around 11:30 p.m. the night before, a neighboring industrial facility near ITC reported "high benzene detections" and said one of its workers was vomiting and being sent to a hospital, Unified Command records show. Benzene can also be added in emergency situations, like the pandemic, or if it provides significant therapeutic advantages. By Monday - eight days after the . It is highly toxic and is a known carcinogen; exposure to it may cause leukemia. The email address cannot be subscribed. ", In the same press conference, Adam Adams, the federal on-scene commander for the EPA, said that air monitoring results, "have been consistent - no detections [of benzene].". Ten of the tanks - each big enough to hold more than 3 million gallons of chemicals - collapsed, sending chemicals gushing into the nearby ship channel and killing birds and fish. When working at potentially higher exposure levels, OSHA requires employers to provide personal protective equipment such as respirators. The benzene drifting through Deer Park "was a health threat to the community that went basically unshared," said Elena Craft, a senior scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund. Scientists at the indepenent analytical lab Valisure have found benzene in numerous consumer health and beauty product samples. Anemia (a low red blood cell count), which can cause a person to feel weak and tired. ", Fire rages as residents fall ill - March 17-19, 2019. Advocates took aim at the Food and Drug Administration for failing to do more to protect the public. But what Ochoa and other residents weren't told by federal, state and local officials at the time was that long after the fire was extinguished and life seemed to go back to normal, an invisible danger remained. ToxFAQs for Benzene. The USEnvironmental Protection Agency (EPA)maintains the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS), an electronic database of human health effects from exposure to various substances in the environment. Certain hand sanitizers and aerosol drug products have been recalled due to benzene contamination. Workers in industries that make or use benzene can be exposed to this chemical. It's highly toxic to humans, which means it can harm you if you swallow it, touch it, or breathe it in.
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