Benzene Leukemia Lawsuit Filed Over Unsafe Workplace

A Texas man has filed a lawsuit against Chevron, DuPont, Exxon and other chemical companies, alleging that he developed leukemia from benzene exposure. 

The benzene lawsuit was filed by Norvel Dorsey on January 18, in Jefferson County District Court in Texas. Dorsey named DuPont De Nemours, Chevron U.S.A., Exxon Mobil Corp. and some of its subsidiaries, Foster Wheeler Energy Corp., Gulf Oil Corp., Texaco, U.S. Steel and 4520 Corp. as defendants.

According to the complaint, Dorsey worked as a pipefitter for various companies from 1960 until 1986, during which time he was exposed to benzene in the workplace and through products made by the defendants. The lawsuit claims that benzene exposure led to the development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The lawsuit accuses the companies of negligence, saying they knew their products and workplaces were hazardous to workers’ health. Dorsey claims that, due to the defendants’ actions, he suffered physical impairment, disability, and will require medical monitoring for the rest of his life.

Benzene is an industrial chemical that is used as a solvent in the production of drugs, synthetics and dyes. It has also been used as a gasoline additive, although limits have been placed on its use in fuel due to benzene’s negative health effects.

Exposure to benzene has been associated with the development of several fatal forms of cancer, leukemia and other conditions, such as Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML), Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL), Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDL), Myelofibrosis and Myeloid Metaplasia, Aplastic Anemia and Thrombocytopenic Purpura.