BenzeneCAS 71-43-2
IARC Group 1 leukemia carcinogen — no safe exposure level, in solvents, gas-stove combustion, and attached-garage fumes.
Toxic Chemical Databases
Substance-specific listings — these flags are for Benzene alone, not for the broader family.
Chemical Type
Aromatic Hydrocarbon — Group 1 Carcinogen
Chemical Description
Benzene is a foundational aromatic chemical and IARC's textbook Group 1 carcinogen — confirmed to cause acute myeloid leukemia in humans, with worker-cohort dose-response data spanning a century. EPA classifies it as a known human carcinogen via inhalation. Residential exposure sources: solvent contaminants in oil-based stains and adhesives, combustion byproducts from gas appliances (especially gas stoves), stored fuel in attached garages, and tobacco smoke. There is no safe exposure level — every unit of exposure adds incremental leukemia risk.
Biological Activity
Severity scores specific to this substance, NOT the parent family average. Differences between siblings are real and meaningful.
Top Health Consequences
- Acute myeloid leukemia (IARC Group 1, NTP Known Human Carcinogen)
- Bone marrow suppression and aplastic anemia at high exposure
- Reduced lymphocyte counts at chronic low-level exposure
- Fetal harm in occupational exposure
- Indoor air dominated by attached-garage transfer in many homes
Pathways of Exposure
- Off-gassing from oil-based solvents, stains, and lacquer thinners
- Combustion byproducts from gas stoves and unvented heaters
- Attached-garage stored-fuel and vehicle-exhaust transfer
- Tobacco smoke (active and residual third-hand)
Building Materials with Benzene
Listed alphabetically — product categories where this specific substance appears.
Lacquer Thinner
Oil-Based Stains & Sealers
Solvent-Based Adhesives
Stored Fuel & Cleaning Solvents in Garages
How We Keep Benzene Out of a House
Avoiding Benzene is only half of it. The replacement has to work in a mold free, airtight, PHPP-modeled assembly as well — and finding materials that do both is most of what we do.
If you want a house specified this way from the start, or an existing house assessed for what is already in it, that is the work we do. Earth Bound Homes builds in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Mateo County and across the San Francisco Bay Area.