Benzene in people living in Canada

Learn about human biomonitoring of benzene in Canada.

On this page

• About benzene
• Data sources for benzene biomonitoring
• Results of benzene biomonitoring
• Related links
• How to cite this web page

About benzene

Benzene is a colourless liquid and volatile organic compound that is naturally present in outdoor air at low concentrations.

Benzene is used widely in industrial processes to make:

• a variety of chemicals and plastics
• synthetic fibers, rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs and pesticides

Benzene is found:

• naturally in crude oil
• in petroleum products, such as:
  • gasoline
  • various fuels and oils

It's also formed during the burning of organic materials.

People are exposed to benzene by:

• smoking cigarettes or cannabis
• breathing in second-hand smoke
• breathing in smoke from a fireplace or woodstove, or from wildfires
• breathing in air in homes with attached garages, or where gasoline or solvents are stored indoors
• breathing in vehicle exhaust and gasoline vapours near service stations

Benzene is absorbed in the body after exposure. It's carried in the blood throughout the body where it breaks down into other chemicals (benzene metabolites). Benzene is measured in a blood sample. The presence of benzene in your blood reflects recent exposure.

Potential health effects of benzene

Studies in humans and laboratory animals show that exposure to high levels of benzene is associated with:

• cancer
• adverse effects on blood

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified benzene as carcinogenic (causing cancer) to humans.

It's important to note that the presence of a substance in your body doesn't necessarily mean it will affect your health.

What we're doing to lower human exposures to benzene

We have:

• identified benzene as toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999
• established guidelines for benzene in drinking water and soil
• proposed a guideline for benzene in residential indoor air
• added benzene to the list of ingredients that are prohibited for use in cosmetic products
• limited the allowable concentration of benzene in gasoline as well as in emissions from vehicles

Benzene is a candidate for full life cycle management to prevent or minimize its release into the environment. Management strategies include pollution prevention, pollution control and remediation. We continue to monitor and assess benzene and benzene metabolites.

Data sources for benzene biomonitoring

This fact sheet presents human biomonitoring data from the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS). You can access more results for benzene and other volatile organic compounds in the Canadian population through the Canadian biomonitoring dashboard.

We wish to acknowledge all participants, including Indigenous peoples, who took part in the biomonitoring study.

Results of benzene biomonitoring

Figure 1: Levels in the Canadian population, by smoking status

Average levels of benzene were higher in people who smoke cigarettes than in people who don't smoke cigarettes. From 2012 to 2017, average levels of benzene were relatively unchanged in both groups.

Text description

Table 1, Average levels of benzene by smoking status

Collection period	Smoking status	Geometric mean level (µg/L)	95% confidence interval (µg/L)
2012 to 2013	People who don't smoke	0.029	0.023–0.038
2014 to 2015	People who don't smoke	0.027	0.011–0.038
2016 to 2017	People who don't smoke	0.028	0.022–0.037
2012 to 2013	People who smoke	0.12	0.095–0.14
2014 to 2015	People who smoke	0.12	0.093–0.14
2016 to 2017	People who smoke	0.14	0.11–0.18

Figure 2: Levels in the Canadian population, by age group (in people who don't smoke cigarettes)

Average levels of benzene were similar across age groups in people who don't smoke cigarettes.

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Table 2, Average levels of benzene non-smokers by age group

Collection period	Age group (years)	Geometric mean level (µg/L)	95% confidence interval (µg/L)
2012 to 2013	12 to 19	0.028	0.022–0.036
2012 to 2013	20 to 39	0.031	0.022–0.045
2012 to 2013	40 to 59	0.028	0.022–0.035
2012 to 2013	60 to 79	0.029	0.022–0.039
2014 to 2015	12 to 19	0.027	0.011–0.039
2014 to 2015	20 to 39	0.025	0.017–0.037
2014 to 2015	40 to 59	0.030	0.011–0.047
2014 to 2015	60 to 79	0.025	0.011–0.033
2016 to 2017	12 to 19	0.029	0.022–0.039
2016 to 2017	20 to 39	0.030	0.023–0.040
2016 to 2017	40 to 59	0.027	0.011–0.036
2016 to 2017	60 to 79	0.027	0.011–0.036

Figure 3: Levels in the Canadian population, by sex (in people who don't smoke cigarettes)

Average levels of benzene were similar between sexes in people who don't smoke cigarettes.

Text description

Figure 3

Collection period	Sex	Geometric mean level (µg/L)	95% confidence interval (µg/L)
2012 to 2013	Females	0.029	0.022–0.039
2012 to 2013	Males	0.029	0.022–0.038
2014 to 2015	Females	0.026	0.011–0.038
2014 to 2015	Males	0.028	0.011–0.040
2016 to 2017	Females	0.028	0.022–0.036
2016 to 2017	Males	0.028	0.021–0.038

Related links

• Canadian biomonitoring dashboard
• Volatile organic compounds
• Toxic substances list: benzene
• Benzene: IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans

How to cite this web page

Health Canada. 2024. Benzene in people living in Canada. Ottawa, ON. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/environmental-contaminants/human-biomonitoring-resources/benzene-in-people.html