Benzene: Environmental effects
Description
Benzene has a high acute toxic effect on aquatic life. Long-term effects on marine life can mean shortened lifespan, reproductive problems, lower fertility and changes in appearance or behaviour. It can cause death in plants and roots and damage to the leaves of many agricultural crops.
Entering the environment
Benzene is carried in the air. If released to soil, benzene will usually breakdown quickly. It can be mobile in soil, however, and may contaminate groundwater. Benzene is only slightly soluble in water, but is readily absorbed by the lipid phase (fatty parts) of aquatic organisms, which can result in transport in the environment.
Where it ends up
In the atmosphere, benzene can react with other chemicals to produce phenol, nitrophenol, nitrobenzene, formic acid and peroxyacetyl nitrate. It is a "precursor" hydrocarbon leading to the formation of photochemical smog. It will usually breakdown (decompose) over a few days, with the products eventually ending up in the air. It can be washed out of the air by rain, but will evaporate and continue to contaminate the air. It can attach to rain or snow and be carried back down to the ground. Benzene in soil or water will decompose with the presence of oxygen. It does not build up concentration levels in plant or animal tissues.
Environmental guidelines
Australian Water Quality Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Waters: (ANZECC, 1992):
Maximum of 0.3 mg/L (i.e. 0.0003 g/L)
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