Environmental Toxins: Portland Air High in Benzene

The air in parts of Portland, Oregon has been found to contain benzene in levels far above what is considered safe for long term exposure. The benzene causing the high levels comes from vehicular pollution; the gas Washington and Oregon residents put into their cars has twice as much benzene as the national average and three times as much as California gasoline.

The big dose of benzene in the air we breathe

There is little that Northwesterners can do to get cleaner gas; states can't override federal Environmental Protection Agency rules on gasoline ingredients. Benzene is a known cause of leukemia and other blood ailments. Chemical and oil industries have long fought against tightening benzene standards because it will be more costly. The EPA currently is seeing increasing lawsuits related to the matter and therefor is under pressure to consider new national limits on benzene in gasoline.