The reports say that the suit does not involve Uniroyal or Michelin, which purchased Uniroyal-Goodrich Tire Co. in the late 1980s.

The group is suing 16 manufacturers, distributors and suppliers of benzene, claiming the companies knew the product was dangerous but failed to disclose that information. As a result, the workers say they took no precautions and got the solvent on their skin and clothing.

"The people that were manufacturing it, distributing it, and supplying it had the information that would have allowed them to provide warning or other types of notice to Uniroyal or the workers to take those types of precautions, and they weren’t given," said Michael Brose, the plaintiffs’ attorney to news media.