Risks of exposure to benzene

Workplace exposure to benzene has steadily increased in correlation to the chemical's increased use and production. During 1967, there were about 800 million gallons of benzene produced in the U.S., and by 1969, the amount of benzene increased to 1,185 million gallons with approximately 16% of the productions derived from coal. Over 3 million people in the workplace experience exposure to the human carcinogen benzene every year despite the workplace standards that have been enacted over the years.