The next time you fill your gas tank up and try to squeeze in that last drop to so you can go further with less trips to the gas station remember this...Topping off your gas tank defeats the automatic shutoff valve thats there to allow room for the gas to expand in your tank. When you you top off you defeat the valve, thereby releasing large amounts of a known carcinogen called Benzene. Not only are you damaging the valve on your car which can lead to gas leaks, you are contributing to the damage of your health through high exposure to Benzene fumes which are invisible to the human eye.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency classifies benzene as a Class A carcinogen and has concluded that Oregon’s cancer risk “is dominated by the emissions of benzene.”
- Studies show that breathing air contaminated with benzene inflicts genetic damage linked to childhood leukemia.
- Recently, researchers are taking a closer look at what seems to be a direct connection between a parent’s benzene exposure and the likelihood of leukemia in their offspring.
- Neighborhoods within two blocks of gas stations are exposed to benzene levels that increase the risk for leukemia, a cancer of the blood-making organs.
Sources: Visit this site for more information about the Don't Top off campaign in Oregon (site has relevant information applicable to any state or nation.)
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