Benzene Articles

Lab Worker’s Lymphoma Death Blamed on Benzene Exposure

A Texas woman filed suit last week against 25 oil and chemical companies on behalf of her late spouse, who she believes contracted non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and died due to benzene exposure.

Kentucky Woman Sues over Husband’s Death in Benzene, Petroleum Naphtha Case

A Kentucky woman filed suit last week in an Illinois court against 17 defendants in the death of her husband, which she claims was caused by his exposure to benzene and petroleum naphtha.

Citgo Found Guilty of Criminal Charges in Environmental Case

On Wednesday, Citgo Petroleum Company was found guilty of violating the U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970. The case marks the first time a refiner went to trial for criminal charges.

Environmental Watchdog Files Intent to Sue Over River Contamination

The Edison Wetlands Association (EWA), an environmental watchdog group, filed an intent to sue two companies for allegedly allowing chemicals to seep into Raritan River in New Jersey.

Kentucky Tire Builder Files Suit against 11 Companies for Exposure to Benzene, Butadiene

A Kentucky man filed a lawsuit in Madison County Circuit Court on Monday, alleging that the 11 defendant companies negligently exposed him to benzene and butadiene, causing pancreatic cancer in him.

Eight Companies Hit with Lawsuit over Benzene Death

The estate of an Illinois man who died last year of leukemia has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Madison County Circuit Court. The suit blame's the man's death on eight companies that manufactured benzene-containing products.

Safeway Settles Soft Drink Benzene Lawsuit

Grocery giant Safeway Inc. has settled a lawsuit that claimed the potential for benzene in some of its private label soft drinks.

Sunny Delight Named as Defendant in Benzene Lawsuit

Sunny Delight is one of four beverage companies being sued for allegedly producing benzene-containing products. The Blue Ash-based company's Berry, Intense Lemon Lime, and Baja Orange flavors reportedly tested positive for the cancer-causing substance.

14 Corporate Giants Named in Benzene Lawsuit

Fourteen defendant corporations are being sued in Madison County, Illinois, Circuit Court for allegedly causing the death of a steel worker. According to the suit, the deceased’s disease, multiple myeloma, was caused by benzene exposure.

Coca Cola Settles Lawsuit Alleging Benzene in Soft Drinks

On Monday, the Coca Cola Company settled a lawsuit alleging that two of its soft drinks contain ingredients that can combine to form benzene, a cancer-causing substance.

Seaman Files Benzene Lawsuit in Jefferson County

Steve Cancel filed a benzene suit against Seacor Holdings Inc., Seacor Marine, and Seabulk Tankers on May 7 in Jefferson County District Court. His suit claims that negligent benzene exposure resulted in lymphoma.

Former Chevron Employee Sues for Benzene Exposure

A former Chevron employee and his spouse filed a claim with the Jefferson County District Court against Chevron U.S.A and 28 other oil companies on April 24. The suit claims negligent benzene exposure.

Oklahoma Couple Files Benzene Exposure Suit against 80 Corporations

A couple in Oklahoma filed a lawsuit in Madison County, Illinois, earlier this month against 80 defendant corporations, claiming negligent benzene exposure.

DuPont Faces Benzene Suit from Estate of 60-Year Employee

The representative of former DuPont employee Earl Dean Thompson's estate has filed a lawsuit against the company’s Jefferson County chemical plant, as well as numerous other oil companies, claiming they negligently exposed Thompson to benzene.

Benzene Case Taken to U.S. Supreme Court

A lawyer urged the U.S. Supreme Court last week to reverse the state Supreme Court ruling that barred her Alabama client from suing the manufacturers of a chemical he blamed for causing his rare form of leukemia.

Tennessee Refiner to Pay Out $2.2 Million for Violating Clean Air Act

The Justice Department and the Environmental Protection Agency announced last week that the former owner of a Tennessee petroleum refinery will pay out $2.2 million in civil penalties to resolve allegations that the company violated the Clean Air Act (CAA).

Benzene Suit Filed in Madison County against More Than 10 Major U.S. Corporations

On the behalf of the estate of David W. Baglin, Karen Walker of Troy, Illinois, filed a lawsuit in Madison County last month against more than 10 major U.S. corporations. Her suit claims Baglin died of myeloma caused by chronic exposure to benzene, a known carcinogen.

Dangerous Chemicals Leak into Ohio River

Authorities in Illinois have closed a two-mile stretch of the Ohio River after a towboat pushing a chemical-laden barge rammed into the Brookport Dam, causing some of the barge’s toxic cargo to leak into the river.

New EPA Regulations to Limit Levels of Benzene in Gasoline

The Bush administration approved new regulations on Friday that restrict the levels of carcinogenic chemicals in gasoline. The approval follows a lawsuit filed by environmental groups and lobbying that called for stricter regulations.

Environmental Report Raises Questions about the Accuracy of Oil Industry Pollution Reporting

According to a new report issued today by the nonprofit Environmental Integrity Project (EIP), nine U.S. oil refineries are responsible for 1/3 of the nation’s carcinogenic emissions reported by the oil industry.

New York State Files Suit Against Exxon Mobil, 4 Other Companies

New York moved to file a lawsuit yesterday against Exxon Mobil and four other companies to force them to clean up a 50-year-old oil spill that spans Brooklyn’s Greenpoint neighborhood and contaminates adjacent Newton Creek.

Couple Seeks Over $1 Million in Benzene Exposure Suit

A Madison County couple filed a benzene lawsuit on Jan. 2 against over two dozen companies who allegedly sold, manufactured, or distributed hazardous products including the known carcinogen benzene.

Environmental Group Alleges Illegal Dumping by ExxonMobil, Files Intent to Sue

An environmental group filed a federal notice of an intent to sue Exxon Mobile yesterday, accusing the energy company of illegally dumping toxic waste into Newton Creek.

High-Profile Toxicologists, Lab Experts Hired in Chemical Exposure Suit Against Ford

Residents of Ringwood, New Jersey, have hired experts from the “Erin Brockovich” case a year into their multimillion dollar lawsuit against Ford Motor Co., hoping to prove the automaker is responsible for decades of illegal dumping and causing illness in the community.

Alabama Man Dies after Years-Long Fight against Benzene

An Alabama man died Wednesday after spending years trying to sue the benzene-producing company he blamed for his illness. His death follows a recent ruling that blocked his suit.

Lawsuit Alleges Benzene and Other Chemical Contamination of California Groundwater

An environmental advocacy group filed suit Jan. 11 in Los Angeles Superior Court against Southern California Gas Company, alleging benzene and other toxic chemicals leaking from the company's underground gas reservoirs have contaminated groundwater aquifers.

Former Hartford, Illinois, Couple Seeks $1 Million in Benzene Suit

On Jan. 2, Courtney and Jim Vostry filed a benzene lawsuit in Madison County Circuit Court naming 28 defendants.

Kraft Foods Avoids Lawsuits Alleging Benzene-Tainted Drinks

Four lawsuits against Kraft Foods alleging dangerous levels of benzene in some of its soft drinks have been dismissed because the food maker reported that it reformulated the products in question.

Suspected Benzene Fumes Cause Evacuation of Visalia Medical Building

Suspected benzene fumes emanating from the Visalia, California, sewer system shut down a downtown medical building on Dec. 5, leading investigators to speculate that illegal dumping of toxic substances had occurred.

California Leukemia Victim Says Oil Companies' Benzene to Blame

An 18-year-old Santa Maria, California, man suffering from leukemia has filed a lawsuit seeking punitive damages and coverage of medical expenses from six major oil corporations he says exposed him and his neighbors to benzene fumes.

Lymphoma Lawsuit against Oil Giant BP Ends in Settlement

More than two years after filing a chemical exposure lawsuit against BP Amoco, Justin Detel’s fight is finally over. The 20-year-old Missouri resident reached a settlement with the global energy company for an undisclosed sum.

Five Contamination Sites Added to National Priorities List

Five contamination sites are being added to the National Superfund Priorities List, which designates the most serious hazardous waste sites marked for possible long-term cleanup with help from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund program.

Insurance Company Files Appeal Disputing Line-of-Duty Death of Firefighter

A Puyallup, Washington, firefighter died June 1, succumbing to a form of cancer the state recognizes as a job-related disease for firefighters. The city’s insurance company is seeking to appeal the claim.

Consumer Reports Expresses Concern over Benzene Levels in Soft Drinks

After testing 14 beverages containing both vitamin C and sodium benzoate for benzene, Consumer Reports found as much as 6 parts per billion of this known carcinogen in certain beverages.

Higher Rates of Cancer Found among Residents Who Lived near Rubber Factory

The results of a recently released study show that residents who lived near a now-defunct rubber factory in Hamilton, New Jersey, have higher than normal rates of bladder and brain cancer and leukemia.

Harford County Receives Delayed Notification of Contaminated Water

Last week, Harford County, Maryland, officials sent letters to 375 homes in the Forest Hill community, notifying residents of groundwater contamination near a local elementary school.

Study Shows 9/11 Rescue Workers Plagued by Respiratory Problems

A study released earlier this week reveals that almost 70 percent of the workers who responded to the World Trade Center attacks incurred lung ailments during or after their work at the site.

Investigation into Chemical Spill Produces Multiple Citations

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety & Health Administration recently issued three citations to a chemical plant in Corpus Christi, Texas, over a fatal chemical spill that occurred earlier this year.

Foul Smell in New York City Boroughs Associated with Elevated Benzene Levels

As a foul odor recently blanketed Staten Island’s North Shore and certain areas of Brooklyn, New York City’s Department of Environmental Protection discovered elevated levels of benzene in the air.

Oklahoma Community Wants Benzene Spill Eliminated

Residents of the Northeastern Oklahoma city of Miami are working with a major tire company to ensure that a local benzene spill is taken care of.

Coca-Cola Sued over Benzene as Other Beverage Makers Settle Similar Lawsuits

Coca-Cola Co. has been served with a lawsuit calling for the removal of Coke ingredients that can produce cancer-causing benzene. The case began as two other companies settled similar lawsuits.

Florida Landfill Faces Lawsuit

Residents who live near a landfill in the Northwest Florida community of Navarre have filed a lawsuit claiming that the landfill is responsible for spreading benzene, arsenic, and other toxic chemicals throughout the neighborhood.

FDA detects benzene in five different drinks

A Food and Drug Administration analysis of over 100 soft drinks and other beverages found five drinks with benzene levels higher than U.S. drinking-water standards, the FDA said last Friday.

Class action suit brought against companies over benzene contaminated soda

Bellywashers, a popular kids' drink produced by In Zone Brands, and Polar Beverage's Diet Orange Dry are named in a class action lawsuit over benzene levels.

Benzene suit settled during jury deliberation

While jurors where deliberating for a second day in the benzene exposure case brought by John Ringstaff against Crown Chemical Company, the two parties settled.

Benzene found at old landfill in Santee, California

Small amounts of the cancer causing chemical Benzene have been discovered at the former site of an old landfill now surrounded by homes.

Tire plant worker death suit bringing Alabama law into question

A lawsuit brought by the widow of a tire plant worker is meant to challenge the legality of a 1979 Alabama law setting the statute of limitations for hazardous material exposure at two years.

Public kept in Dark about Soft Drink Contamination

Sixteen years ago the Food and Drug Administration found Benzene, a chemical known to cause cancer, in some soft drinks and never told the public.

Plaintiff wins $13.3 Million in Case Against BP Amaco

A jury in Independence, Missouri has awarded $13.3 million to the family of Nancy Ryan after she died of a blood disease caused by her proximity to the company's oil refinery in Sugar Creek.

Homeowners Face Possible Presence of Toxic Chemicals

NORCO, CALIFORNIA -- Residents are attempting to wait patiently to find out whether their properties have been contaminated with toxic chemicals that may have leaked from a nearby testing facility.