What is benzene and what are its health effects? What is EPA doing about benzene?

According to "Basic Information about Benzene in Drinking Water" [http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/benzene.cfm]:

"Benzene, a volatile organic chemical, is a clear, colorless aromatic liquid. It is highly flammable. It is formed through natural processes, such as volcanoes and forest fires. It is also formed from industrial processes. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline and cigarette smoke."

Regulations restricting levels of benzene in drinking water are described at "What are EPA's drinking water regulations for benzene?" [http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/benzene.cfm#four]

Benzene can also be present in the air. According to EPA's Technology Transfer Network Air Toxics Web Site [http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/benzene.html] Benzene is found in the air from emissions from burning coal and oil, gasoline service stations, and motor vehicle exhaust."

EPA regulates benzene as a "mobile source air toxic." For details see "What is EPA Doing About Mobile Source Air Toxics?" at http://www.epa.gov/otaq/toxics.htm#epamsat.

The health effects of exposure to benzene are summarized at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/benzene.html:

"Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure of humans to benzene may cause drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, as well as eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation, and, at high levels, unconsciousness.  Chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure has caused various disorders in the blood, including reduced numbers of red blood cells and aplastic anemia, in occupational settings.  Reproductive effects have been reported for women exposed by inhalation to high levels, and adverse effects on the developing fetus have been observed in animal tests.  Increased incidence of leukemia (cancer of the tissues that form white blood cells) have been observed in humans occupationally exposed to benzene.  EPA has classified benzene as a Group A, human carcinogen."

For more information on benzene and its health effects, see:

• National Library of Medicine: Tox Town [http://toxtown.nlm.nih.gov/text_version/chemicals.php?id=5]
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry: ToxFAQs for Benzene [http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=38&tid=14]
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): Safety and Health Topics: Benzene
  [http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/benzene/]
• NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards: Benzene [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0049.html]
• gotquestions  http://publicaccess.supportportal.com/ics/support/KBAnswer.asp?deptID=23012&task=knowledge&questionID=22213

"After the Storm" What is Stormwater Runoff?

Stormwater runoff occurs when precipitation from rain or snowmelt flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, sidewalks, and streets prevent stormwater runoff from naturally soaking into the ground.

Why is stormwater runoff a problem?    

Stormwater can pick up debris, chemicals, dirt, and other pollutants and flow into a storm sewer system or directly to a lake, stream, river, wetland, or coastal water. Anything that enters a storm sewer system is discharged untreated into the waterbodies we use for swimming, fishing and providing drinking water.

The effects of pollution

Polluted stormwater runoff can have many adverse effects on plants, fish, animals and people.

Sediment can cloud the water and make it difficult or impossible for aquatic plants to grown. Sediment also can destroy aquatic habitats.

Excess nutrients can cause algae blooms. When algae die, they sink to the bottom and decompose in a process that removes oxygen from the water. Fish and other aquatic organisms can't exist in water with low dissolved oxygen levels.

Bacteria and other pathogens can wash into swimming areas and create health hazards, often making beach closures necessary.

Debris - plastic bags, six-pack rings, bottles, and cigarette butts - washed into waterbodies can choke, suffocate, or disable aquatic life like ducks, fish, turtles, and birds.

Household hazardous wastes like insecticides, pesticides, paint, solvents, used motor oil, and other auto fluids can poison aquatic life. Land animals and people can become sick from eating diseased fish and shellfish or ingesting polluted water.

Polluted stormwater often affects drinking water sources. This, in turn, can affect human health and increase drinking water treatment costs.

gotquestions http://water.epa.gov/action/weatherchannel/stormwater.cfm