What is the permissible exposure limit (PEL) to benzene?

The permissible exposure limit (PEL) to benzene is established to protect workers from the harmful effects of this chemical, which is known to have significant health risks, including the potential for causing cancer and damaging bone marrow. The PEL for benzene is set at 1.0 parts per million (PPM) over an 8-hour time-weighted average. This standard is enforced by occupational health regulations to minimize the risk of exposure in workplaces where benzene is present.

Setting the PEL at 1.0 PPM reflects an approach to ensure that workers are not exposed to levels that could impact their health, taking into account both immediate and long-term exposure risks. Therefore, this limit is vital for the safety and health of individuals in environments where benzene is used or present.

In contrast, other values such as 0.5 PPM, 2.0 PPM, or 5.0 PPM either do not reflect the established regulatory standards or are potentially too high, raising safety concerns for occupational exposure.