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. 2013 Nov;91(5):588-94.
doi: 10.1007/s00128-013-1104-6. Epub 2013 Sep 20.

The impact of candle burning during All Saints' Day ceremonies on ambient alkyl-substituted benzene concentrations

Tomasz Olszowski  1 , Andrzej Kłos
Affiliations

The impact of candle burning during All Saints' Day ceremonies on ambient alkyl-substituted benzene concentrations

Tomasz Olszowski et al. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 2013 Nov.

Abstract

Research findings concerning benzene, toluene, ethylobenzene, meta-, para- and ortho-xylene as well as styrene (BTEXS) emission at public cemeteries during All Saints' Day are presented here. Tests were carried out at town-located cemeteries in Opole and Grodków (southern Poland) and, as a benchmark, at the centres of those same towns. The purpose of the study was to estimate BTEXS emissions caused by the candle burning and, equally important to examine, whether emissions generated by the tested sources were similar to the BTEXS emissions generated by road transport. During the festive period, significant increases in benzene concentrations, by 200 % and 144 %, were noted at the cemeteries in Opole and Grodków, as well as in toluene, by 366 % and 342 %, respectively. Styrene concentrations also increased. It was demonstrated that the ratio of toluene to benzene concentrations from emissions caused by the burning candles are comparable to the ratio established for transportation emissions.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of measuring site locations
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Benzene and toluene concentrations in the city centres of Opole and Grodków. Boxes show the range between the 25th and 75th percentiles. The whiskers extend from the edge of the box to the 5th and 95th percentiles of the data. The squares inside indicate median values
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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