Ventilation is important and it should be considered carefully when using solvents. Personal protective equipment such as aprons, gloves and masks with filters should be available where needed, and they should be used according to the recommendations. Storage of this equipment should be in a clean place away from possible contact with solvent vapours. It is used as a solvent in many areas of industries, such as rubber and shoe manufacturing, and in the production of other important substances such as styrene, phenol and cyclohexane. It is essential in the manufacture of detergents, pesticides, solvents and paint removers.
Some countries recommend even lower levels.
The odour threshold is 12 ppm. The odour serves only as a warning of exposure. If you are handling benzene without smelling it, this does not mean that there is no exposure. Health effects Benzene enters the body through inhalation and it may pass through the skin. Exposure to low concentrations of benzene vapour or to the liquid which has penetrated the skin may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, loss of appetite and stomach upset.