For over a century, doctors have been aware of the link between acute myeloid leukemia and benzene exposure
According to a study from the medical journal Carcinogenesis: Integrative Cancer Research, benzene may cause hematotoxicity even in people exposed to a low concentration below the safe exposure limit of 1 ppm. The highest benzene level found by the Valisure researchers in antiperspirant and deodorant body spray was 17.7 ppm, which greatly exceeds the safe exposure limit. Consumers who have been applying these products were not only exposed to the chemical through skin absorption but also via inhalation. Once inside the body, benzene can trigger the onset of acute myeloid leukemia through the following mechanisms:
- targeting critical genes and pathways through the induction of genetic and chromosomal abnormalities
- dysregulating stromal cells, whose purpose is to support the tissue surrounding other tissues and organs
- destroying hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow, which can develop into any type of blood cells if they are healthy
A study published in the Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine discovered that being exposed to 1 ppm of benzene over a period of 10 years is enough to cause acute myeloid leukemia. However, more recent medical studies found that regular exposure to only 0.5 ppm of benzene per year has a significant association with blood cancers such as leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia occurs when there is a considerable overgrowth of abnormal, immature leukocytes derived from the blood itself or bone marrow cells. Some cells have the characteristics of myeloid cells, which differentiates acute myeloid leukemia from acute lymphocytic leukemia, which can also be the result of benzene exposure.
People experience the most severe benzene exposure when they inhale the solvent, which is what happens when consumers use contaminated deodorant body spray. When someone develops acute myeloid leukemia, the disease causes the bone marrow to overproduce abnormal white blood cells. These cells usually accumulate in the bone marrow or spill out into other organs throughout the body. Still, what actually causes this leukemia type is the benzene metabolizes in the liver, as some of these byproducts can travel to the bone marrow, where they can wreak havoc. If you have been applying benzene deodorant, it is essential to be on the lookout for the following symptoms:
- shortness of breath
- pale skin
- excessive sweating
- a high temperature
- recurring infections
- frequent bleeding
- unexplained weight loss
- feeling weak or tired
- loss of appetite
We strongly encourage consumers who have been using benzene deodorant to get in touch with our acute myeloid leukemia lawyers, who specialize in these cases and who might be able to obtain compensation from the liable manufacturers on their behalf. Nevertheless, to qualify for filing a claim, our legal team will have to thoroughly assess your documents. If you have a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, you may be entitled to financial compensation for your unjust suffering, which we may be able to recover for you.
