BENZENE
PROPERTY CONTAMINATION

How Benzene Contaminates Property

Benzene can enter soil and water through multiple industrial and environmental pathways. Common sources of benzene contamination include:

• Leaking Underground Storage Tanks (USTs): Old fuel or chemical storage tanks at gas stations and industrial sites often corrode, releasing benzene and other petroleum hydrocarbons into surrounding soil.

• Industrial Spills and Waste Disposal: Refineries, chemical plants, and manufacturing facilities that improperly dispose of waste or experience leaks can cause extensive groundwater pollution.

• Transportation Accidents: Train derailments, tanker truck spills, or pipeline ruptures can release large amounts of benzene into the environment.

• Legacy Contamination: Many properties are built near or on top of former industrial sites, leaving homeowners exposed to contamination long after the original business closed.

Once benzene enters the soil or groundwater, it can spread far beyond the original site. Vapors may migrate into nearby homes through cracks in foundations, a process known as vapor intrusion, creating serious indoor air quality hazards.

The Impact of Benzene Contamination on Property Owners

Benzene contamination affects more than the environment—it directly harms property owners and communities.

• Decreased Property Value: Contaminated properties are difficult or impossible to sell without costly remediation.

• Health Risks: Long-term benzene exposure has been linked to cancers such as leukemia and aplastic anemia, as well as immune system and reproductive damage.

• Remediation Costs: Cleanup costs can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars, often far exceeding a homeowner’s ability to pay.

• Loss of Use: In some cases, properties must be vacated entirely, leaving residents displaced and without compensation if responsible parties refuse accountability.

Residents who live near industrial areas where the air contains benzene face a higher risk of developing cancer, according to a recent study. Researchers at Emory University found that the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma was higher near industrial facilities that emitted benzene, which bolsters previous studies that link benzene to other forms of cancer like AML and MSDS. The health safety concerns of benzene property contamination are far-reaching.

The study, published in the journal Cancer, raises more concerns about the toxic chemical that is found in a number of materials including crude oil and gasoline.

According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, more than 30 businesses were emitting benzene at one time, among other dangerous air pollutants. The EPA listed Chem Dyne in Hamilton, Ohio as one of its Superfund cleanup sites due to toxic contamination of benzene, asbestos and other chemicals.

Recent research has shown that parental occupational exposure to benzene can play a role in causing childhood leukemia. The effects from exposure to benzene can vary among sub-populations like children and infants, and potentially even more dangerous.

It is theorized that children may have a higher level of chemical exposure because of their heightened activity patterns which may increase their exposures. This could translate into a greater risk of leukemia and other toxic effects to children if they are exposed to benzene at any level.

Infants and children may be more vulnerable because of their fragile chemical makeup while they are still undergoing maturation.

Understanding Benzene Contamination

Benzene is a highly toxic chemical compound found in petroleum products, gasoline, and various industrial solvents. While it’s a key ingredient in many manufacturing processes, benzene is also a known human carcinogen—linked to leukemia, lymphoma, and other serious illnesses. Unfortunately, benzene can seep into soil and groundwater, contaminating residential and commercial properties for decades.

Property owners often discover benzene contamination through environmental testing, local EPA notifications, or after experiencing strange odors, discoloration in water, or unexplained health symptoms. When contamination occurs, the impact is not just environmental—it can devastate home values, disrupt businesses, and create long-term health risks for entire communities.

The WHO cancer agency may have left out key findings in recent studies, and the reasons are unknown. In an important Benzene review, the agency allegedly–according to Consumer Advocate attorneys–underplayed human exposure to the carcinogenic chemical.

This news comes at a time when millions of workers around the world, including car mechanics, cabinet makers, and various painters all using benzene products (adhesives, asphalt, solvents, and cleaning agents), often in poorly-ventilated factories and shops, could be at risk of serious harm from benzene and other toxic chemicals.