Abstract
Many VOC represent hazards to human health through chronic exposure. Recent European and world-wide legislation proposes limit values for ambient concentrations of these compounds. However, very little experimental data exists for true population exposure. In 1996, the European MACBETH initiative set out to measure population exposure to benzene in six European cities. This study details the French contribution to this program. Six campaigns were carried out, each comprising measurements at 100 outdoor sites and the participation of 50 non-smoking volunteers who wore personal samplers and had passive monitors installed in their homes. Iso-concentration maps were drawn for each campaign and the results showed that outdoor concentrations were significantly lower than indoors. Almost 75% of the volunteers were exposed to mean concentrations higher than the limit value of 5µgm3. It is demonstrated that personal exposure levels cannot be deduced simply by combining indoor and outdoor background concentrations. It is also shown that there is need for better knowledge of the contributions to overall exposure of outdoor microenvironments and the authors hope that future European directives will take this into account.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bates, M., Gonzalez-Flesca, N., Cocheo, V. and Sokhi, R.: Ambient Volatile Organic Compound Monitoring by Diffusive Sampling. Compatibility of High Uptake Rate Samplers with Thermal Desorption. Analyst, December 1997, vol. 122, 1481–1484.
Begerow, J.; Jermann, E.; Keles, T.; Ranft, U.; Dunemann, L. Passive sampling for VOC in air at environmentally relevant concentration levels. Fres. J. Anal. Chem. (1995) 351: 549–554
Brown, V.M and Crump, D.R. Diffusive sampling of VOC in ambient air. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 52: 43–55 1998
CEN 1997 European Standards Publication: Ambient Air Quality. Diffusive Samplers for the determination of concentrations of gases and vapours. CEN-TC 264/ WG 11
Cicolella, A. 1997 Evaluation des risques pour la santé liés au benzène. INERIS Report Conseil Supérieur d'Hygiène Publique de France (CSHP) 1997. Avis relatif au projet de directive concernant la pollution de l'air ambiant par le benzène. 17 septembre 1997.
EC 1998 European council directive relating to the limit value for benzene and CO in ambient air CEN TC 264/ WG13 N 45
Gonzalez-Flesca, N.; Cicolella, A.; Bates, M.; Bastin, E., 1999 Pilot Study of Personal, Indoor and Outdoor Exposure to Benzene, Formaldehyde and Acetaldehyde. Env. Sci. Poll. Res. 6 (2) 95–102
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) 1987. IARC Monographs 1987; Suppl. 7, 120–121.
Loi sur l'air et l'utilisation rationnelle de l'energie 1998. Premier decret n° 98-360 du 6 mai 1998.
Mann, H.S., Crump D.R. and Brown V. M.: Proceedings of Healthy Buildings/IAQ'97, Washington D.C., USA (sept. 27-Oct. 2,1997).
World Health Organisation (WHO) 1993. Updating and revision of the air quality guidelines for Europe. WHO Meeting Report 11-13 January 1993.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gonzalez-Flesca, N., Bates, M.S., Delmas, V. et al. Benzene Exposure Assessment at Indoor, Outdoor and Personal Levels. The French Contribution to the Life MACBETH Programme. Environ Monit Assess 65, 59–67 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006435404346
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1006435404346