Benzene Exposure Risk

Gas, Benzene Spill in Turtle Creek, Pa.

December 29, 2008

Turtle Creek, a waterway southeast of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has recently experienced a massive loss of aquatic life after about 12,000 gallons of gasoline seeped out of a broken underground valve. Toxins such as benzene polluted the waterway.

The valve failure occurred around the beginning of December when an employee of Sunoco Logistics Partners L.P. was attempting to repair an 8-inch interstate pipeline.

While most of the 12,000 gallons of fuel entered Turtle Creek via storm drains, some also seeped into the earth, complicating and perpetuating the contamination of this waterway.

Among the toxins in gasoline are:

benzene
ethylbenzene
toluene
xylene

Of these, benzene is one of the most toxic, as it can permanently damage – and even kill – both human and animal life.

Effects of Benzene Exposure

While the loss of aquatic life caused by this gas spill is problematic in and of itself, the fact that benzene and other toxins are still in the ground means that contamination and loss of life will likely continue until all of the toxins are effectively removed from the topsoil.

Benzene, a sweet smelling derivative of crude oil, is a substance that can cause immediate dizziness, disorientation and nausea upon short-term exposure. Over longer periods of time, benzene exposure is far more dangerous, as it can result in incurable, potentially fatal conditions, including:

blood disorders
immune system deficiencies
leukemia
lymphatic cancers
severe anemia

In some cases, it takes as little as five years of benzene exposure to result in such serious side effects as those listed above.

To mitigate the damage caused by this massive contamination, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ordered Sunoco to:

Follow all emergency clean up procedures, which will require the company to use absorbent pads and other tools to remove all leaked gas
Regularly sample the water and earth surrounding Turtle Creek to ensure that gas and toxins are being removed effectively
Report, on a weekly basis, the findings of such reports and cleanup efforts

Currently, the EPA is also considering charging Sunoco with civil penalties for their negligence and role in the contamination of Turtle Creek.

(Source: Earthtimes)

Have you or a loved one been harmed by benzene exposure? If so, contact us today to meet with an experienced benzene lawyer who can help you pursue your legal claim and win your highly deserved compensation.

For more information about how benzene exposure may put you and your loved ones at risk, contact a Benzene Attorney.

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