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Benzene: first draft

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EAN 9789241571500 · World Health Organization · benzene -- physiological effect.

Identity

Name
Benzene: first draft
Barcode (EAN/GTIN)
9789241571500
Brand / Manufacturer
World Health Organization
Category
benzene -- physiological effect.
GS1 Prefix
Bookland (ISBN-13) (GS1 prefix 978)

Regulated substances (4)

About these substances

Plain-language summary of each regulated substance found above, drawn from public regulatory data.

Benzene (CAS 71-43-2)

Benzene is a chemical that occurs naturally in crude oil and gasoline, and it's also used to make plastics, resins, synthetic fibers, and some cleaning products. You might encounter it in vehicle exhaust, cigarette smoke, or industrial emissions. California's Proposition 65 lists benzene because it can cause cancer and reproductive harm, including birth defects or other developmental issues. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies benzene as Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans), and it's also linked to damage to the immune system and bone marrow. Because of these risks, California requires businesses to warn consumers if they are exposed to benzene above certain levels. This summary draws on public regulatory data; the linked source is authoritative. Source: California OEHHA Proposition 65 List (https://oehha.ca.gov/proposition-65/proposition-65-list).

Benzene (CAS 71-43-2)

Benzene is a chemical that occurs naturally in crude oil and is also produced by human activities like burning gasoline and tobacco. You might encounter it in industrial settings, as it is used to make plastics, resins, synthetic fibers, and some types of rubber. It is also a component of gasoline. The World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies benzene as Group 1, meaning it is carcinogenic to humans. This classification is based on strong evidence from studies of people exposed to benzene at work, showing it can cause leukemia. Because of these risks, many countries strictly limit benzene in consumer products like gasoline and in workplace air. The key point is that IARC's classification is a hazard warning, not a measure of your personal risk from everyday exposure. This summary draws on public regulatory data; the linked source is authoritative. Source: WHO IARC Monographs (https://monographs.iarc.who.int/list-of-classifications)

Benzene (CAS 71-43-2)

Benzene is a chemical that occurs naturally in crude oil and is also produced from coal. It is a colorless or light yellow liquid with a sweet smell. You might find it in gasoline, some industrial solvents, and as a starting material for making plastics, resins, and synthetic fibers like nylon. The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) restricts benzene under REACH Annex XVII because it is classified as a carcinogen (causing cancer) and can harm your blood-forming organs with long-term exposure. The restriction limits how much benzene can be present in products placed on the market, such as toys or consumer goods, to protect people from these risks. For example, benzene cannot be used in concentrations above 0.1% by weight in substances or mixtures sold to the public. This summary draws on public regulatory data; the linked source is authoritative. Source: ECHA REACH Annex XVII (Restrictions on Use) - https://echa.europa.eu/substances-restricted-under-reach

Benzene (CAS 71-43-2)

Benzene is a clear, sweet-smelling liquid that comes from natural sources like crude oil and is also produced by chemical processes. It's used in industrial settings to make plastics, synthetic fibers, and other chemicals. However, benzene is banned in cosmetics under EU Regulation 1223/2009 because it is a known human carcinogen—the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifies it as Group 1 (carcinogenic to humans). Even small amounts in products like lotions or perfumes can pose serious health risks, including damage to bone marrow and increased risk of leukemia. That's why the EU's Cosmetics Regulation strictly prohibits benzene in any cosmetic product. This summary draws on public regulatory data; the linked source is authoritative. Source: EU CosIng database (https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/).

California Prop 65 substance (1)

Source: California OEHHA Proposition 65

IARC carcinogen (1)

Source: WHO IARC Monographs

Health Canada Cosmetic Hotlist (1)

Source: Health Canada

China NMPA banned cosmetic (1)

Source: China NMPA cosmetics regulation

EU Cosmetic Prohibited (Annex II) (2)

Source: EU Regulation 1223/2009 Annex II

EU CLP Harmonised Hazard (1)

Source: ECHA CLP Annex VI

EU REACH Restricted (Annex XVII) (1)

Source: ECHA REACH Annex XVII

DE UBA Rigoletto (water hazard class) (1)

Source: Umweltbundesamt — Rigoletto

FDA Added to Food (US) (1)

Source: U.S. FDA Substances Added to Food

NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards (US) (1)

Source: U.S. CDC NIOSH

GHS hazard classifications and PubChem CIDs from NIH PubChem (NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine, public domain). Hover any pictogram for its meaning.

What we found about this product

A factual report of what public registries and product databases returned for this EAN. We do not authenticate products or issue safety verdicts — we only report what we found.

Identifier checks

Registry scans

Sources scanned: GS1 country prefix · Wikidata brand registry · Open Beauty / Food Facts · USDA FDC Branded Foods · Nudger GTIN dataset · EU Safety Gate (RAPEX) · US CPSC · US FDA recalls · Health Canada Recalls · NHTSA recalls · ECHA SVHC · REACH Annex XVII · EU RoHS · Stockholm POPs · CLP Annex VI · EU Cosmetic Annex II · EU Ecolabel · US ENERGY STAR · US EPA Safer Choice · US FDA GUDID · EU EUDAMED.
Last refreshed: .

About this section. We aggregated what we found across 24 public registries and product databases as of . This is not an authentication, certification, or safety endorsement. Coverage gaps in our source data exist. For definitive verification, please contact the manufacturer or the relevant regulator directly.

More from World Health Organization

Disclaimer. Substance and ingredient information is matched against public government registries (cited above) and may be incomplete or imprecise for a specific batch. This page is informational only and does not constitute medical, legal, or safety advice. For health concerns consult a qualified specialist. For confirmed product safety status refer to the manufacturer and the linked regulatory source.

Provenance

Last updated: . See About for the full source list.

See also

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