Illinois Benzene Exposure Attorney

 Benzene Exposure

Benzene is a hydrocarbon liquid and an effective solvent.  It is highly flammable, colorless with a sweet odor.  It is mainly used in chemical and plastic manufacturing. Various industries use benzene to make other chemicals, such as styrene for plastics, cumene for 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.  Benzene is a natural constituent of crude oil and it is usually synthesized from compounds present in crude oil.

Benzene exposure can create serious health risks. People living near oil refineries, chemical plants, toxic waste dumps, and underground storage tanks have an increased risk of benzene exposure.  Workers in many industries that produce or use benzene may be at risk for being exposed. Some of the at risk jobs include benzene production (petrochemicals, petroleum refining, and coke and coal chemical manufacturing), tire manufacturing, the printing industry, and storage or transport of benzene and petroleum products containing benzene.

A considerable number of human studies provide evidence linking benzene and cancer. Initially, increased risks of leukemia, chiefly acute myeloid leukemia (AML), were reported among workers with high levels of benzene exposure in the oil refining, chemical and shoemaking industries.

Long term studies at three Ohio rubber sheeting making plants provided the first epidemiological evidence that benzene caused cancer.  The National Cancer Institute and the Chinese Academy of Preventative Medicine conducted a long term study of over 74,000 workers at 672 factories in 12 cities and found elevated risks of blood diseases at low exposure levels to benzene.  There is a lengthy record of benzene being controlled by OSHA.

The diseases associated with benzene exposure are set forth below:

• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
• Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS)
• Myelofibrosis/Myeloid Metaplasia
• Sec. Aplastic Anemia
• Myelodysplasia
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
• Hairy Cell Leukemia
• Multiple Myeloma
• Thrombocytopenic Purpura
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
• Hematologic Cancer

The Dysart Law Firm, P.C., and its team of attorneys and experts has experience with environmental contamination litigation, including working on behalf of people to recover for personal injury and economic loss to the values of homes and other property. We are currently reviewing potential claims involving benzene contamination in Roxana, Illinois and we recently settled a case involving a 4 million gallon underground gasoline in Hartford, Illinois.

• $39.5 Million Recovery Hartford, Illinois Environmental Contaminant Case.
• The Dysart Law Firm, P.C., is an experienced environmental contamination toxic tort law firm. We recently finalized a $39.5 million settlement with the last of numerous defendants including Shell Oil Company, BP Products North America, Premcor, Sinclair and Apex Oil Company, stemming from a 4 million gallon gasoline plume under the town of Hartford, Illinois, a town neighboring Roxana, Illinois.
• In July 2008, we reached a settlement with Premcor and Shell for $16 million. In 2009, plaintiffs reached a settlement with BP for $19.5 million. In 2011 we settled with Apex Oil Company and Sinclair Oil Company for $4 million.   The total settlement value of the property damage case was $39.5 million.

     SIGNIFICANT LEGAL EXPERIENCE

• Federal Prosecutor, White Collar Crime
• Trial Attorney, Commercial Litigation Branch, U. S. Department of Justice. 

For more than 20 years Christopher Dysart has represented hundreds of clients in litigation and at trial. Mr. Dysart's clients have included NASA, the U.S. Air Force, the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Motion Picture Association for America, the Mine Safety and Health Administration, and Fortune 500 Companies. Most importantly, I have represented individuals like you against some of the largest corporations in the world including Shell Oil Company, BP of North America, Premcor Refining Company and Otis Elevator Company.  

Mr. Dysart has obtained numerous jury verdicts and settlements including a recent $39.5 million dollar settlement and an $18 million dollar jury verdict for the death of a child.   In 2003, Mr. Dysart was recognized as the Litigator of the Month by the National Law Journal.

Contact Us Today

If you think you might be the victim of benzene exposure please call Christopher Dysart today for a free consultation at (636) 812-0191.

CALL TODAY 636-812-0191