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Ban Benzene Declaration

(As translated from Chinese)

We are a group of benzene-poisoned patients and people concerned about the issue of benzene poisoning. Some of us are afflicted with leukemia, some with aplastic anemia, some with leukopenia. Most of our conditions are chronic and incurable. We are saddled with these diseases all because of the widespread use of a poisonous chemical in many factories - benzene!

Benzene has an exceptionally wide range of industrial and daily usage. It is found in the glue in shoemaking factories, in coating on toys, in cleaning agent in the electronic industry, in paint on furnitures, and in derusting agents in hardware industry. In the developing world, almost every industrial process that involves painting, glueing or cleaning would involve benzene. Benzene is the most commonly encountered partner of the front line workers.

Yet benzene is also a well-known carcinogens since the early 1900s. It has been proven that benzene can cause a number of blood anomalies and even birth defects. In China, new cases of benzene poisoning are uncovered daily and causing the death of many - including a lot of youngsters under 20. Benzene is highly toxic - even under a strict exposure limit of 1ppm, it would still cause the death of 5 people per 1000 exposed. Given its current unregulated and widespread use in China, it is estimated that up to a million workers would be killed by benzene. 

Benzene is not irreplaceable; benzene-free glue and paint have long been developed. Yet, companies big and small, local and trans-national, are still using benzene with abandon - all out of cost saving calculation. Such reckless act lead to the continuous creation of tragedies. While the western world is phasing out benzene, the same poisonous substance is enjoying increasing demands from the developing world. 

The widespread occurrence of benzene poisoning is taking its toll on the country. It leads to the loss of many young labour force and hence the driving power of economic development. At the same time it create a huge burden on the society. Take the example of a benzene-poisoned leukemia patient in Guangdong. He needs to spend over ¥300,000 (about US$50,000) a year on his treatment, and six years on since his diagnosis, he has already spent over ¥2 million. The number is terrifying when you consider the huge number of benzene-poisoned workers. The financial and emotional burden in turn affect the workers’ family memebrs, and has already led to many a broken families.

Workers are not the only group susceptible to benzene poisoning. Benzene containing wastewater can cause long-term pollution to underground water. Benzene is also highly volatile, and would adversely affect the air quality of area surround a benzene using factory.  Consumers are also at risk of buying benzene-containing solvents or products, which might have a particularly harmful effect on children. Members of the public should be aware of the risk benzene posed, and we hope to have your support in calling for a benzene ban.

The continuous use of benzene in the face of longstanding evidence of its harm is blatant murder. This must be stopped!

We call for:
A complete ban of benzene-containing solvents!


We demand:

  1. Companies and brands to take immediate action to eliminate the use of benzene in their supply chains;
  2. Chinese government to legislate against the industrial use of benzene-containing solvents (with only limited exception in the production of benzene compound), and ratified the Benzene Convention (C136). 

We must not merely look on as companies continue to trade the lives of millions for transient profits! From this moment on, say no to benzene!



______________

First Batch of Signatories (52):

  1. Bu Jiansheung   (Benzene-poisoned patient, thrombocytopenia / Guangxi province)
  2. Fu Shaoxing   (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hunan province)
  3. Li Zhongchun   (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia / Sichuan province)
  4. Li Shaoxiong   (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia / Sichuan province)
  5. Zhang Lanchun   (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hunan province)
  6. Cai Yongjiang   (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukemia / Guangdong province)
  7. Yuan Yongzheng   (Benzene induced occupational asthma / Sichuan province )
  8. Zhang Zhenguo   (Benzene induced occupational asthma / Chongqing Municipal)
  9. Tian Lin    (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Shanxi province)
  10. Ming Kunpeng  (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukemia / Hubei province)
  11. Hao Rongying   (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hubei province)
  12. Peng Yanbin   (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hubei province)
  13. Hu Qingchang   (Benzene induced occupational asthma / Hubei province)
  14. Long Zhongyong   (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Jiangxi province)
  15. Chen Shanhong   (Benzene-poisoned patient / Hunan province)
  16. Zhang Zhonghua   (Benzene-poisoned patient / Chongqing municipal)
  17. Yi Ping      (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia / Hunan province)
  18. Tang Zhenna   (Benzene-poisoned patient / Guangdong province)
  19. Yi Yeting   (Benzene-poisoned patient, acute leukemia / Hubei province)
  20. Zhou guixiang   (Benzene-poisoned patient, chronic leukemia / Hunan province)
  21. Mao Xiaoling   (Benzene-poisoned patient, chronic leukemia / Chongqing municipal)
  22. Ying Linquan   (Benzene-poisoned patient / Anhui province)
  23. Nie Yunli   (Benzene-poisoned patient / Hunan province)
  24. Liu Qinguo   (Benzene-poisoned patient / Anhui province)
  25. Cao Siying   (Benzene-poisoned patient, chronic leukemia / Hunbei province)
  26. Zou Juli   (Benzene-poisoned patient / Shanxi)
  27. Wu Haiqin   (Benzene-poisoned patient / Hubei province)
  28. Li Chunhao   (Benzene-poisoned patient, chronic leukemia / Hunnan province)
  29. Chen Chuang    (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hunan province)
  30. Lu Qingfeng  (Benzene-poisoned patient, chronic leukemia / Jiangxi province)
  31. Liang Gang      (Benzene-poisoned patient, chronic leukemia / Sichuan province)
  32. Zhang Cairu   (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Shanxi province)
  33. Song Sizhong   (Benzene induced occupational asthma / Hubei province)
  34. Huang x Rong     (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Guangxi province)
  35. Han x Ke     (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hebei province)
  36. Yang x Rong     (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Henan province)
  37. Yuan x Si     (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Henan province)
  38. Liao x  Ying     (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hunan province)
  39. Zhou x Ying     (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Sichuan province)
  40. Wang Chunsheng    (Benzene-poisoned patient, aplastic anemia / Henan province)
  41. Zheng Daoliang    (Benzene induced occupational asthma / Sichuan province)
  42. Li Xiaomin    (Benzene-poisoned patient, aplastic anemia / Hunan province)
  43. Tan Yan       (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukemia / Guangxi)
  44. Ren Xijun    (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Henan province)
  45. Chen Huangsheng    (Benzene-poisoned patient, aplastic anemia / Guangdong province)
  46. Shi Hong       (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hunan province)
  47. Tang x Jiao     (Benzene-poisoned patient, neutrophilic granuloaytopenia / Hubei province)
  48. Xie x Qiong     (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Guangxi province)
  49. Yang Wenzhen    (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hubei province)
  50. Wang Qianxiang    (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Sichuan province)
  51. Zhao x Xiang     (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Hunan province)
  52. Zhou x Zhen     (Benzene-poisoned patient, leukopenia / Sichuan province)


Second Batch of Signatories:

53.   管铁流 (执业律师,广东/深圳,留言:没有苯,我们至少还有替代品。
没有健康,就没有人类的一切。)
54.   王凤平  (鎘中毒)
55.   钟学连  (公民,留言:苯至少还有替代品,人命无价,健康不可替代。)
56.   Sugio Furuya (Secretary General of Japan Occupational Safety and Health Resource Cente, Japan)
57.   Kathleen Ruff (Supporter of right to health for all, Canada)
58.   Jagdish Patel (Director,Peoples Training & Research Centre, India)
59.   M V Prajapati (Social worker, India Gujarat State, 留言:It has carcinogens, can effect underground water also, so at any cost it should be banned.)
60.   Miriam Lara (Project Coordinator - Workers' Guide to Health and Safety, USA)
61.   Omana George (Program Coordinator, AMRC, Hong Kong)
62.   温瑞环 (NGO, 廣州)
63.   方应斗 (工人,廣州,留言:为从事苯作业的工人争取少一份的伤害)



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    For example benzene-poisoned worker, lawyer, unionist etc.
    Your contact details will only be used for the confirmation of your signature. Rest assure we will not disclose it to third parties!
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