/oss/taxonomy/term/487/all en /oss/article/medical-history/tale-benzene-poisoning-and-snake-snaring-its-own-tail <hr /> <p><em>This article was first published in <a href="https://montrealgazette.com/opinion/columnists/the-right-chemistry-a-tale-of-a-snake-snaring-its-tail">The Montreal Gazette.</a></em></p> <hr /> <p>Professor Carl Santesson was intrigued.</p> Fri, 29 Mar 2024 16:38:54 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9889 at /oss /oss/article/health-and-nutrition-you-asked/should-we-worry-about-benzene-personal-care-spray-products <p>Probably not, but such products should not contain benzene and can be formulated without this contaminant. The issue arises because a number of products, including some deodorants, sunscreens, aerosol dry shampoos and athlete’s foot treatments have recently been recalled because they were found to be contaminated with trace amounts of benzene.</p> Fri, 25 Feb 2022 18:42:31 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9038 at /oss /oss/article/health-and-nutrition/benzene-jitters <p>At one time it was used as an aftershave because of its sweet smell.  It was even used to decaffeinate coffee.  Oh my, how times change!  Today we worry about a few parts per billion of benzene in our drinking water, in our soft drinks, in our antiperspirants or sun protection products.  Why?  Because benzene is an established carcinogen and should be avoided.  But benzene also happens to be one of the building blocks of our society.  Traces of it are everywhere.  Given that eliminating benzene from the environment is impossible, what we need is a reasonable risk analysis.  That’s quite a c</p> Thu, 20 Jan 2022 01:26:48 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8995 at /oss /oss/article/history-general-science/what-exactly-green-chemistry <p>In 1942 nylon went to war. American paratroopers dropped from the sky with nylon parachutes and hunkered down in nylon tents. Soldiers on leave hoped to seduce European women with gifts of nylon stockings. Bristles for toothbrushes, strings for tennis racquets, insulation for wires, bearings for machinery, catheters, sutures, umbrellas, undergarments, shower curtains and numerous items of clothing all made of nylon soon hit the market. Consumers were absolutely taken with this miraculous new material.</p> Fri, 30 Apr 2021 20:52:48 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 8716 at /oss /oss/article/science-science-everywhere/benzene-your-car-and-its-not-gas-tank <p>Everyone knows that driving car is a risky business but what about just getting into one? Especially on a hot day! And we’re not talking about burning your rear by depositing it on the plastic seat. It is in a more insidious way that the plastic seat, along with numerous other plastic components in the car, are claimed to present a risk in a widely circulating email.</p> Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:21:23 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1665 at /oss