During the trial, the manufacturers decided to settle with Mr. He sued several brake cleaner manufacturers in 2017 arguing that the benzene in their products caused his AML. Michael Butts, worked as a mechanic from the mid-1960s until 2014 and was diagnosed with AML in 2015. The use of these products in cold weather months, when windows and doors were closed without proper ventilation, led to even higher exposures. The manufacturers of these products knew they contained benzene, they knew that benzene causes leukemia, and yet they failed to warn mechanics about their products or instruct mechanics to use appropriate PPE. So back in the day, a mechanic using a can of CRC Brakleen or Valvoline Brake Cleaner could not escape breathing in benzene vapors. It is nearly impossible to use an aerosol can of brake cleaner while maintaining a safe distance from the product. These manufacturers can now be held liable to sickened mechanics, machinists, farmers and other tradesmen diagnosed with AML, MDS or multiple myeloma. For too many years, the manufacturers of brake cleaners did not warn the end users about the dangers of benzene even though they knew that the toxic chemical was in their products.
Benzene is a known cause of blood and bone marrow cancers like AML, MDS and NHL. Historically, benzene was a component of many brake cleaners. Some fairly strong chemicals are needed to remove brake dust and residue when changing or checking your brakes. Why Are Mechanics At Increased Risk For Leukemia? Learn more about mechanic leukemia lawsuits below. People who regularly used these products in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s are at an increased risk of developing blood and bone cancers such as acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and multiple myeloma (MM).
Brake cleaners have been used by professional mechanics and weekend warriors for years.