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Causes Of Leukemia
While scientists have not yet been able to identify the exact causes of leukemia, we do know that it develops much like other cancers. In other words, there are genetic and environmental factors that combine to cause cancer in the blood and bone marrow. When someone with a potential cancer gene is in an environment that can trigger that gene, they may develop cancer.
These cancer genes are hereditary, and can run in a family. However, cancer will only develop if an environmental trigger does something to the body to activate the gene. Among the known triggers of leukemia are radiation, the HIV virus, and petrochemicals such as hair dyes and benzene.
Benzene is one of the most common chemicals in the petrochemical industry, so anyone who works with gasoline, plastics, dyes, or other petroleum-based industries may be exposed to this chemical. It is highly volatile, and benzene can enter the body when it is inhaled or when vapors come into contact with the skin. Benzene is very quickly removed from the body, but exposure can be enough to trigger latent cancer genes.
If you have worked in an industry that exposed you to benzene and you have developed leukemia, call the Benzene Leukemia Legal Help Project today. There is a genetic element to cancers, but that doesn't excuse employers from properly protecting their employees from benzene exposure. To find out if there may be help for you out there, contact us--it's free and easy to determine if you have a case, and if you do, you may be eligible for free legal help.
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