CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

INTRODUCTION
Rationale

Benzene also known as benzol, is a colorless volatile organic compound that has its

prevalent use as an industrial chemical. Abundant in our surroundings where its main sources

originate from industrial processes in the environment which includes burning coal and oil,

exhausts from motor vehicles and evaporation in gasoline stations, it was first discovered and

isolated from coal tar in the 1800s. Applied and ranked as top 20 in production volume for

chemicals in the united states, benzene has been used for synthesizing various chemicals such as

styrene, cumene or various resins, cyclohexane for nylon and synthetic fibers, and the

manufacturing of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs and pesticides (Agency for Toxic

Substances & Disease Registry 2007).

Prevalent in the environment and commonly emitted in industrial and transportation

settings, benzene has been measured to have widespread environmental and occupational

exposures. It can access the human body through inhalation as the common entry of exposure

but may also rapidly penetrate skin and contaminate water and food which may result in dermal

and ingestion exposures. Although less toxic solvents act as substitutes to benzene, it acts as a

component of petroleum products like gasoline, and is a trace impurity in industrial products

which leads in continued sub to low ppm(part per million) occupational exposures and through

higher exposures which exists in small uncontrolled workshops in developing countries.(Weisel,

C.P. 2010)
 The ubiquitous use of benzene as a solvent has culminated in it becoming one of the most

intensely regulated substance in the world and as a result has led to many working populations

being exposed; in the early days often in uncontrolled conditions, leading to high exposures.

(Capleton, A. C., & Levy, L. S. 2005). It is brought to serious attention that these conditions may

provide potential hazards for the population affected by the use and manufacturing of these

industrial products and without identifying variables that should be disseminated for the

continuous use of these products, it serves as health risk factors that may cause health

complications. It is in this light that this research is conducted-to determine the potential hazards

of commonly used benzene products.

At the heart of every school, it is important to consider the health state of the individuals

bound in the premises and the potential hazards that could be induced when using common

industrial products affiliated with benzene in a given context that the population is exposed to it

constantly. Considering that to a great extent benzene has been a well-established human

carcinogen that abides in the environment especially in developing countries like the Philippines,

the purpose and objective of this research is necessary to fulfill the premise of identifying the

precise determinants of what component of each industrial products allows its classification as a

potential hazard.

Theoretical Background

Benzene is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sweet odor. It evaporates quickly when

exposed to air. It is used mainly as a starting material in making other chemicals, such as plastics,

detergents, drugs, rubbers, dyes, lubricants, and pesticides—which are some of the products we
use and come in contact with on a daily basis. In the past, benzene was also commonly used as

an industrial solvent and as a gasoline additive.

Benzene is a common contaminant of the environment that is still found in glues, solvents

and petrol. It is a result of incomplete combustion of hydrocarbons and is present both in exhaust

fumes of traffic and in smoke of tobacco. The biggest risk of exposure to elevated doses of

benzene happens in the workplace, although in the overall setting the most prevalent exposure

to reduced doses of benzene happens.

Benzene is a carcinogenic substance found in many modern goods and sectors. It is

created by both natural procedures and human operations, but, most importantly, elevated

levels of benzene exposure can be quite hazardous.

Benzene is known to be a carcinogen, based on evidence from studies in both people and

lab animals. The link between benzene and cancer has largely focused on leukemia and other

cancers of blood cells.

The main way people are exposed is by breathing in air containing benzene. It can also be

absorbed through the skin, but because liquid benzene evaporates quickly, which is less common.

Workers in industries that make or use benzene may be exposed to this chemical. These include

the rubber industry, oil refineries, chemical plants, shoe manufacturers, and gasoline-related

industries. Overexposure to benzene may lead to headaches, unconsciousness, drowsiness,

dizziness, and tachycardia or arrhythmia (rapid or irregular heartbeat).

 According to Chezzi (n.d.), “Benzene is present in every pharmaceutical drugs (100%) but

in low amount of concentration, molarity and molality making it non-lethal and applicable for

pharmaceutical purposes. Benzene is a building block of almost every medical drugs available

(because of its structure > aromatic hydrocarbon). Take ibuprofen, it has benzene in it but in a

low concentration and moles > it has anti-inflammatory properties and is a painkiller but side

effects of ibuprofen is dizziness, nausea, and headache.”

According to Shung & Park (2018), “disclosed is a rubber composition containing main-

chain benzoxazine, in which benzoxazine produces no harmful materials during vulcanization and

can thus be used in lieu of a phenol novolac resin used as a resin component of a conventional

rubber composition, and also in which the use of benzoxazine, especially main-chain benzoxazine

having a high molecular weight, is capable of maintaining excellent mechanical properties and

exhibiting high flexibility. The rubber composition of the invention can be utilized for a rubber

product, especially a tire product.”

The benzene in detergents poses a high risk of health damage. Benzene acetate is

dangerous if it makes contact to the skin or if inhaled. 12% benzene is present in a standard

laundry detergent (Zielinski, 2019).

 According to Hwang (2019), “In addition to limiting the benzene level in gasoline, current

and ongoing regulations restrict the content of residue, which consists of heavy hydrocarbon

components with boiling points outside the gasoline boiling range.”

According to Janny (2009), “In the early 1990s, it was found that benzene could be formed

in soft drinks containing both（1） benzoic acid or its salts and（2）ascorbic acid (vitamin C）,

especially in the presence of light and elevated temperatures. However, it”

is important to note that the presence of benzoic acid or its salts and ascorbic acid in soft drinks

does not necessarily result in the formation of benzene. Many factors e.g. pH, exposure to high

temperature and UV light, presence of certain minerals and sweeteners etc. may affect the

benzene formation.”

Review Related Studies

According to a study conducted by Smith (2010) entitled, “Advances in Understanding

Benzene Health Effects and Susceptibility” exposure to benzene can lead to multiple alterations

that contribute to the leukemogenic process. Benzene may act by causing chromosomal damage

(aneuploidy, deletions, and translocations) through the inhibition of topo II; disrupting

microtubules; generating oxygen radicals that lead to point mutations, strand breaks, and

oxidative stress; causing immune system dysfunction; altering stem cell pool sizes through

hematotoxicity (blood poisoning); inhibiting gap-junction intercellular communication; and

altering DNA methylation and perhaps specific microRNAs.

 Another study by Snyder (2012) entitled, “Leukemia and Benzene” states that excessive

exposure to benzene has been known for more than a hundred years to damage the bone

marrow which results in a decrease in the numbers of circulating blood cells, and ultimately,

aplastic anemia. It is also found that an alternative outcome of benzene exposure has been the

development of one or more types of leukemia.

A similar study conducted by the World Health Organization (2010) entitled, “Exposure to

Benzene: A Major Public Health Concern” revealed that sources of exposure to benzene are

human activities such as processing petroleum products and other aromatic compounds. The

presence of benzene in petrol and as a widely used industrial solvent can result in significant

occupational exposure and widespread emissions to the environment. Benzene has also been

detected in indoor residential air. Although some of this exposure might be from building

materials (paints, adhesives, etc.), most is from cigarette smoke in both homes and public spaces.

This chronic exposure to benzene can reduce the production of both red and white blood cells

from bone marrow in humans, resulting in aplastic anemia.

Moreover, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, benzene is a

well-established cause of cancer in humans. This chemical causes acute myeloid leukemia. There

is also limited evidence that benzene may also cause acute and chronic lymphocytic leukemia,

multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

 Benzene is broadly utilized in the United States and positions in the best 20 synthetics for

generation volume (see ATSDR Toxicological Profile of

Benzene, http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp3.pdf). It is the essential beginning material

for synthetic substances used to make plastics, tars, manufactured strands, colors, cleansers,

medications, and pesticides. Common wellsprings of benzene incorporate discharges from

flames. Benzene is likewise a segment of raw petroleum, gas, and tobacco smoke. Word related

exposures in the creating scene are once in a while high in view of the proceeding with nearness

of benzene in mechanical solvents and pastes. In the United States, laborers keep on being

presented to conceivably large amounts of benzene in the synthetic business, in oil treatment

facilities, in oil pipelines, on boats and tankers, in auto fix shops, and in transport carports.

Transportation might be especially perilous on the grounds that there is little mindfulness or

guideline, and exposures can be considerable (Smith M. T. 2010).

This article provides a literature review on benzene in foods, including toxicological elem

ents, occurrence, mechanisms of formation, and measures of mitigation, and analyzes informati

on on benzene levels in foods.Benzene is acknowledged as carcinogenic to humans by the IARC

(International Agency for Research on Cancer), and its presence in food has been ascribed to m

ultiple potential sources: packaging, storage, contaminated drinking water, cooking procedures,

irradiation procedures, and food preservative degradation such as benzoates.Since there are no

particular boundaries for benzene concentrations in drinks and food in general research,

references for drinking water in the range 1–10 ppb have been accepted. The presence of

benzene was noted frequently in the literature in multiple food / beverage substances with soft
drinks. Although in most of the samples studied, the analyzes reported low benzene levels, some

exceeded permissible limits. From the point of view of public health, accessible information on

nutritional exposure to benzene is minimal. Benzene levels have often been small to be

considered negligible and not a risk to customer health, but more studies are still needed to

better understand their impacts on human health through the ingestion of contaminated food.

There is currently a lack of research assessing the negative health impacts of benzene

exposure in kids or clinical results of those exposed kids. However, evolving studies indicate that

exposure to benzene can cause harmful impacts on children's health. This research aimed at

evaluating and summarizing published research on the negative health impacts of exposure to

benzene in kids. The research examined more than 77 papers and included only articles dealing

with negative health impacts on pediatric populations. These studies assessment given present

knowledge of the health impacts of exposure to benzene in kids. Findings from current research

show that exposure to benzene is correlated with defects in children's hematological, hepatic,

cardiovascular, and pulmonary functions. Published studies obviously support the need for

further evaluation of the potential adverse effects of benzene exposure in kids and these

children's clinical and laboratory results.

Conceptual Framework

DEMOGRAPHIC
CHARACTERISTICS:
Analysis of data The students will be informed
 Education Level through the about the potential hazards of
1st year Questionnaire Benzene products

THE PROBLEM

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to determine the potential hazards of commonly-used Benzene products

among 1st year Medical Technology students in Cebu Doctors’ University in the academic school

year 2018-2019.

This seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What are the respondents top 10 most commonly-used Benzene products?

2. Classifying the chemical ingredients of the top 10 most commonly-used Benzene

products in terms of:

2.1 Organic Compound

2.2 Inorganic Compound

 3. What are the Potential Health hazards of the most commonly-used Benzene

manufactured products in terms of:

3.1 Active ingredients

3.2 Minor components

Significance of the study

This study is conducted to benefit the following:

Chemistry Professors. This research will aid them in their discussions regarding related

lessons. It will be easier for them to tackle related topics about this research.

Future Researchers. This research will be a useful reference for the researchers who

would plan to make any related study.

Health Organizations. This study will prove to be useful for health organizations to be

aware of the potential hazards of products with Benzene.

The University. This study will help the administrators and staff of the university to be

aware and check the products found in the school that may cause potential hazards to the

students.
 Manufacturer. The outcome of the study will be serve as a basis for more safer

products.

Medical Technology Students. This study may assess their knowledge about the organic

chemical benzene as part of their everyday lives and to be aware of the potential hazards it may

cause.

Scope and Delimitations

This study focused mainly on these major variables: responses of the subjects to the

survey conducted, identification of the commonly-used products that contain benzene, and the

potential health hazards of these products.

The study was delimited to only 100 respondents among 8 sections of 1st year Medical

Technology students of Cebu Doctors’ University, First Semester A.Y. 2019-2020. A brief survey

was conducted—through a questionnaire—in order to obtain data from respondents that would

become the basis in identifying and ranking the most commonly-used to the least commonly-

used products that contains benzene. The questionnaires are delimited to 13 manufactured

products. The potential health hazards of the products were determined through thorough

research of reliable, similar studies.

 The study also utilized important information from other research studies necessary to

support and validate the findings of this research.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Research Design

The method used in the study is quantitative research. The design used is descriptive

study. A descriptive quantitative study aims to establish an understanding between the data

being analyzed and describe patterns.

Research Environment

The locale of this study is at Cebu Doctors’ University. A private University located in

Mandaue, City Cebu founded by Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal Jr.

Research Respondents

The respondents of this study consist of one-hundred 1st year students under College of

Allied Medical Sciences who are currently enrolled to the program of Medical Technology.

Research Instruments

The instruments used in this study are the researcher-made survey questionnaires as it will

be used to ascertain the answers of the respondents and convert the gathered data into

information.
Data Collection Procedures

Preliminary Preparation

Prior to the actual data gathering, a transmittal letter was first signed by the research

instructor, Mr. Victorino T. Rendon Jr., Ph.D., and was then submitted to Dr. Marie Emmeline B.

Yu, the chairman of the Department of Medical Technology to ask her permission for the

proposed study in which the target population is the 1st year Medical Technology students.

Actual Data Gathering

After the approval of the transmittal letter, the researchers personally administered the

questionnaires throughout the 8 sections of 1st year Medical Technology students of Cebu

Doctors’ University.

The questionnaires were distributed and the respondents were given 10-15 minutes to

answer it. All through out the session, the researchers were open to entertain questions from

the respondents if there were any. The questionnaire was retrieved as soon as the students

have completed answering the questionnaires. Then, the researchers collated and interpreted

the data gathered and translated it into the information needed for this research.

Data Processing and Analysis

To summarize the categorized data, the statistical treatment of mean was obtained

using the following formula:

 ∑𝑥 𝑖
𝑥=
𝑛
Where: 𝑥 = sum of all data

𝑛 = number of data

The treatment is performed when a sum of the given numbers is divided to the number

of numbers. This will be used to determine the average of the given set of data.

Statistical Treatment
REFERENCES ( sources we prolyl might put sa rrs/rrl)

Weisel, C. P. (2010). Benzene exposure: an overview of monitoring methods and their

findings. Chemico-biological interactions, 184(1-2), 58-66..

Capleton, A. C., & Levy, L. S. (2005). An overview of occupational benzene exposures and

occupational exposure limits in Europe and North America. Chemico-biological

interactions, 153, 43-53.

Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry 2007

(will link the source for the above later, when internet is good)

Because of its wide use, benzene ranks in the top 20 in production volume for chemicals

produced in the United States. Various industries use benzene to make other chemicals, such as

styrene for styrofoams, cumene or various resins, and cyclohexane for nylon and synthetic

fibers. Benzene is also used in the manufacturing of some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes,

detergents, drugs, and pesticides

REFERENCES

Abel, E., DiGiovanni J. (2008).The Molecular Basis of Cancer (Third Edition). Retrieve from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-

science/benzene
Andrea, M. & Reddy, K. (2018). Health risks associated with benzene exposure in children:

A systematic review. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X18789275

Baan, R. et al. (2009). A review of human carcinogens—Part F: Chemical agents and related

occupations. The Lancet Oncology, 10(12):1143–1144. Retrieved from

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanonc/article/PIIS1470- 2045(09)70358-4/fulltext]

Dos Santos, V.P.S., Salgado, A.M., Torres, A.G. & Pereira, K.S. (2015). Benzene as a chemical

hazard in processed foods. International Journal of Food Science, vol. 2015, Article ID

545640, 7 pages, 2015. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/545640

IARC (n.d.). A review of human carcinogens. F. Chemical agents and related occupations.

Lyon, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC Monographs on the

Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, Vol. 100)

Lightfoot, T.,Roman E.(2008). International Encyclopedia of Public Health. Retrieved from

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-

science/benzene

Madeksho Lawfirm (2016, July 15). What household products are sources of household benzene

exposure? Retrieved from https://madeksholaw.com/what-household-products-are-

sources-of-household-benzene-exposure/

Smith M. T. (2010). Advances in understanding benzene health effects and susceptibility. Annual

review of public health, 31, 133–148. doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.012809.103646

Snyder R. (2012). Leukemia and benzene. International journal of environmental research and

public health, 9(8), 2875–2893. doi:10.3390/ijerph9082875

Thomas, R. (2019). Benzene sources: Where it can be found. Retrieved from

https://injury.findlaw.com/product-liability/benzene-sources-where-it-can-be-

found.html

World Health Organization (2010). Exposure to benzene: A major public health concern.

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https://www.who.int/ipcs/features/benzene.pdf