Benzene a industrial solvent, carcinogen chemical used in various industrial applications textile, paints, adhesives, dyes, cosmetics, agro chemicals, rubber. Discovered by Michael faraday

1. Benzene in carbonated drinks, 25
other Industry types use benzene
Article written and published
By
www.worldofchemicals.com

2. Benzene History, Effects
 Michael Faraday discovered benzene in
1825. Benzene formula was proposed by Friedrich
August Kekule. Benzene formula is C6H6 with
themolar mass of 78.11 g/mol. Benzene structural
formula includes aromatic, cyclic, six carbon, six
hydrogen organic compound. Benzene used as
solvent in various industries.Benzene is
parentorganic aromatic compound. Derivatives of
benzene compound
include cumene, ethylbenzene,styrene, cyclohexane,
and aniline.
 A carbonated drink tastes good on a hot day but did
you know people are falling ill after having carbonated
drinks or soft drinks.
 One of those reasons for the sickness is a chemical

3. When you drink a soft drink
 Within 20 minutes of drinking a soft drink
 Within 20 minutes of drinking a soft drink blood
sugar spikes and your liver responds to the
resulting insulin burst by turning massive amounts
of sugar into fat. The continuing insulin burst, over
time, eventually creates insulin resistance and
finally diabetes can be the result.
 Within 40 minutes of drinking a soft drink
 Caffeine absorption is complete; your pupils
dilate, your blood pressure rises, your blood
vessels dilate and your liver dumps more sugar
into your bloodstream.

4. When you drink a soft drink
Cont…
 Around 45 minutes of drinking a soft drink
 Increase serotonin production, which stimulates the
pleasure centres of your brain – a physically identical
response to that of heroin, but not as strong. It can
cause anxiety and depression.
 After 60 minutes of drinking a soft drink
 Sugar crash will start in the body. A sugar crash leads
to signs of lethargy and weakness; hunger may also
become noticeable, as well as sadness.
 The recommended limit for benzene in drinking water
is 5 parts per billion (ppb), researchers have found
benzene levels as high as 79 ppb in some soft drinks.

5. 25 Industries use benzene
 Clothing
 Packaging
 Paints
 Adhesives
 Unbreakable windows
 Plywood
 Computer casings
 Compact discs
 Dyes

6. 25 Industries use benzene Cont
..
 Agrochemicals
 Pharmaceuticals
 Beverages
 Cosmetics
 Personal care products
 Solvents
 Degreasers
 Mineral spirits
 Plastics

7. 25 Industries use benzene Cont
..
 Rubber products
 Resins
 Glues
 Dyes
 Detergents
 Pesticides

8. Research on benzene
 Benzene has also long been recognized as an
effective industrial solvent and degreaser, a use that
remained quite popular for many decades. And with
the rise of the automobile, benzene became a popular
gasoline additive to increase octane ratings and
reduce engine knocking. Benzene is still a component
of gasoline.
 In 1928, medical experts recognized a connection
between benzene exposure and leukemia.
 In 1948, American Petroleum Institute (API) showed
that benzene can cause leukemia.
 In 1990, a study reported having found benzene in
bottles of Perrier for sale in the United States.

9. Research on benzene
 n 1993, research showed how benzene can form
from benzoic acid in the presence of vitamin C
 In 2006, the Korea Food & Drug Administration
(KFDA) detected benzene in 27 out of 30 (90%)
vitamin-enriched drinks.
 In 2008, Coca-Cola announced that it would be
phasing out sodium benzoate from many of its
drinks
 Most of the people are becoming victims of
exposure to small amounts to hazardous levels of
benzene including in beverages.

10. Benzene in carbonated drinks
 Benzene has been detected sporadically at low levels
in some soft drinks. It is thought that this occurs as a
result of an interaction between the preservative
sodium benzoate and ascorbic acid (vitamin C).
Sodium benzoate is added as a preservative to
prevent mould growing in the drinks and vitamin C
may be used as an antioxidant or may be naturally
present.
 People who have inhaled very high levels of benzene
in the workplace have been found to have an
increased risk of cancer. Benzene is present in the
atmosphere from exhaust emissions. On average,
people breathe in 220 μg of benzene every day. For
smokers cigarette smoking is the main source of
exposure at 7900 μg per day.

11. Benzene in carbonated drinks
Cont ..
 The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a guideline
level for benzene in water of 10 μg/kg.
 Benzene levels are regulated in drinking water nationally
and internationally, and in bottled water in the United
States, but only informally in soft drinks.
 The majority of the drinks contained benzoates and
ascorbic acid, which are thought to react to form benzene.
A limited number of mango juices and cranberry drinks
were chosen as these fruits have been found to naturally
contain benzene. In addition, a small number of drinks
containing ascorbic acid and alternative preservatives such
as sorbates or sulfur dioxide were chosen to help establish
whether benzene was occurring from sources other than
sodium benzoate.

12. Benzene in carbonated drinks
Cont ..
 Other factors that affect the formation of benzene
are heat and light.
 Other factors that affect the formation of benzene
are heat and light. Storing soft drinks in warm
conditions can speeds up the formation of
benzene.
 Soft drink
amount
 Diet coke
 Sprite
 ROCKSTAR Energy Drink
Benzene
<1 ppb
<1 ppb
<1 ppb

13. 2 Methods Used Detecting Benzene
 Following methods are used to detect benzene
levels in carbonated drinks
 RSSL Method
 This method utilizes SPME (solid phase
microextraction) and GC-MS (gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry).
 CSL method
 This method utilizes headspace and GC-MS (gas
chromatography-mass spectrometry)