Analysis of benzene air quality standards, monitoring methods and concentrations in indoor and outdoor environment

Abstract

Benzene is a proven carcinogen. Its synergistic action with other pollutants can damage different components of the biosphere. Literature comparing the air quality standards of benzene, its monitoring methods and global concentrations are sparse. This study compiles the worldwide available air quality standards for benzene and highlights the importance of strict and uniform standards all over the world. It was found that out of the 193 United Nation member states, only 53 countries, including the European Union member states, have ambient air quality standard for benzene. Even where standards were available, in most cases, they were not protective of public health. An extensive literature review was conducted to compile the available monitoring and analysis methods for benzene, and found that the most preferred method, i.e, analyzing by Gas Chromatography and Mass spectroscopy is not cost effective and not suitable for real-time continuous monitoring. The study compared the concentrations of benzene in the indoor and outdoor air reported from different countries. Though the higher concentrations of benzene noticed in the survey were mostly from Asian countries, both in the case of indoor and outdoor air, the concentrations were not statistically different across the various continents. Based on the analyzed data, the average benzene level in the ambient air of Asian countries (371 μg/m³) was approximately 3.5 times higher than the indoor benzene levels (111 μg/m³). Similarly, the outdoor to the indoor ratio of benzene level in European and North American Countries were found to be 1.2 and 7.7, respectively. This compilation will help the policymakers to include/revise the standards for benzene in future air quality guideline amendments.

Keywords: Air pollution; Benzene; Civil engineering; Environmental analysis; Environmental chemistry; Environmental engineering; Environmental hazard; Environmental health; Environmental management; Environmental pollution; Environmental risk assessment; Environmental toxicology; Exposure; Global air quality standards; Risk assessment.

Figure 1

Map representing worldwide standards for benzene.

Figure 2

(a) Number of publications vs year (b) Number of publications vs countries (c) Number of publications vs web of the science of category.

Figure 3

(a) Classification of studies based on sampling method (b) Classification of studies based on sample injection method (c) Classification of studies based on detector (d) Classification based on sorbent material.

Figure 4

Box plot representing the distribution of benzene in Indoor environment.

Figure 5

Box plot representing the distribution of benzene in an outdoor environment.