Benzene Regulations in the World
While benzene has enjoyed wide application early on[1], its use has subsequently been heavily circumscribed due to the discovery of its carcinogenicity.
In 1971, ILO passed the Benzene Convention (C136). Article 2(1) states that, “Whenever harmless or less harmful substitute products are available, they shall be used instead of benzene or products containing benzene.” Article 4 mandates that the use of benzene and of products containing benzene as a solvent or diluent shall be prohibited, except where the process is carried out in an enclosed system or where there are other equally safe methods of work. Regrettably, to date only 38 countries have ratified the Benzene Convention[2].
In the EU, benzene has been classified as a category I carcinogen as early as 1967[3]. Its use is restricted in the Marketing and Use Directive (76/769/EEC)[4]. Benzene is not allowed to be placed on the market, or used as a substance, or as a constituent of mixtures in concentration greater than 0.1% by weight. In particular strict restriction is placed on its use in toys. Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), reaffirmed the above rules.
In the US, benzene was withdrawn from consumer products since 1978. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set a permissible exposure limit of 1 ppm in the workplace during an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek. UK has the same exposure limit[5], and employers are required to eliminate its use or substitute a safer material where possible. In China, the corresponding limit is 1.878 ppm[6].
However, even when the stricter 1 ppm limit is complied with, exposure for a working lifetime is estimated to cause 5 excess leukemia deaths per 1000 employees exposed[7]. Given the prevalent use of benzene in developing countries, that will still translate into millions of avoidable deaths[8]. The use of benzene in the workplace should be more strictly circumscribed then that.
In 1971, ILO passed the Benzene Convention (C136). Article 2(1) states that, “Whenever harmless or less harmful substitute products are available, they shall be used instead of benzene or products containing benzene.” Article 4 mandates that the use of benzene and of products containing benzene as a solvent or diluent shall be prohibited, except where the process is carried out in an enclosed system or where there are other equally safe methods of work. Regrettably, to date only 38 countries have ratified the Benzene Convention[2].
In the EU, benzene has been classified as a category I carcinogen as early as 1967[3]. Its use is restricted in the Marketing and Use Directive (76/769/EEC)[4]. Benzene is not allowed to be placed on the market, or used as a substance, or as a constituent of mixtures in concentration greater than 0.1% by weight. In particular strict restriction is placed on its use in toys. Regulation (EC) 1907/2006, concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), reaffirmed the above rules.
In the US, benzene was withdrawn from consumer products since 1978. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set a permissible exposure limit of 1 ppm in the workplace during an 8-hour workday, 40-hour workweek. UK has the same exposure limit[5], and employers are required to eliminate its use or substitute a safer material where possible. In China, the corresponding limit is 1.878 ppm[6].
However, even when the stricter 1 ppm limit is complied with, exposure for a working lifetime is estimated to cause 5 excess leukemia deaths per 1000 employees exposed[7]. Given the prevalent use of benzene in developing countries, that will still translate into millions of avoidable deaths[8]. The use of benzene in the workplace should be more strictly circumscribed then that.
[1] Disturbing examples of early usage of benzene includes after-shave lotion and decaffeinate coffee.
[2] They are Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Hungary, India, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Nicaragua, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Syrian Arab Republic, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Uruguay and Zambia
[3] Directive 67/548/EEC
[4] As amended by Directives 82/806 and 89/677.
[5] Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002
[6] Or 6 mg/m3
[7] Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/csem/csem.asp?csem=19&po=10)
[8] According to official statistics, 2 billion workers in China are currently exposed to hazardous substances. Assuming only one tenth handle benzene – probably a conservative estimate – a 1 ppm concentration of benzene in the workplace would have cause the death of 100,000 workers.
