Exposure to Benzine

Acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, though rare, are serious cancers that originate in the bone marrow and progress rapidly. A growing body of research suggests a link between exposure to chemicals associated with oil and natural gas drilling and an increased risk of these childhood cancers.

Key Connections to Chemical Exposure:

• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) in Children:
  • Literature increasingly points to exposure to chemicals emitted from oil and natural gas wells as a factor that increases the risk of developing ALL in children.
• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML):
  • Benzene exposure has a strong established link to AML in adult workers, particularly in industries like the petroleum industry.
  • Researchers have also documented a moderate cancer link for children exposed to vehicular benzene.

Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Operations and Chemical Emissions:

• Process: To extract oil and natural gas, heavy drilling equipment injects water and various chemicals into the earth under high pressure. This process returns petroleum and contaminated wastewater to the surface.
• Emitted Carcinogens: These activities are well-known to emit cancer-causing chemicals into the air and water, including:
  • Benzene
  • Other pollutants

Benzene: A Known Carcinogen

• Properties: Benzene is a clear to light-yellow liquid chemical at room temperature with a sweet smell. It is highly flammable, evaporates quickly into the air (though heavier than air, it may sink to lower areas), and dissolves only slightly in water, floating on top.
• Sources:
  • Natural sources: Volcanoes and forest fires.
  • Human activities: A natural component of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke.
• Industrial Use: It is primarily used to manufacture other chemicals such as plastics, resins, lubricants, rubbers, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides.

Risk in the U.S.:

• The U.S. is the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas.
• There are almost 1 million producing wells across the country, many of which are located in or near residential areas.
• This geographical proximity puts millions of children at increased risk of exposure to these cancer-causing chemicals.

(Sources: The Hindu and CDC)