Hospital personnel can be secondarily exposed by direct contact or by vapor off-gassing from heavily contaminated clothing or skin. Patients do not pose contamination risks after clothing is removed and the skin is washed. Toxic vomitus from patients who have ingested benzene may off-gas benzene vapor.
Benzene may cause central nervous system depression, cardiac dysrhythmias, cutaneous burns, and respiratory irritation.
There is no specific antidote for benzene. Treatment consists of supportive measures.