title: Determination of the levels of aromatic amines in indoor and outdoor air in Italy.
abstract: We studied the concentration of 10 primary aromatic amines (AA), which are classified as suspected carcinogens, in indoor and outdoor air in Italy. The measured AA included: aniline, o-toluidine, m-toluidine, p-toluidine, 2,3-dimethylaniline, 2,4-dimethylaniline, 2,5-dimethylaniline, 2,6-dimethylaniline, 2-naphtylamine and 4-aminobiphenyl. In the indoor environment (homes, offices and public buildings) the level of contamination (expressed as sum of 9 AA, excluding aniline) varied from 3 ng/m3 (hospital ward) to 207 ng/m3 (discotheque). In most indoor environments with no contamination from cigarette smoke the AA levels were below 20 ng/m3, whereas in the presence of smokers higher values were observed. Aniline levels were more erratic (varying from 53 ng/m3 (office of non-smokers) to 1929 ng/m3 (discotheque) and were not related to cigarette smoke. The concentration range of AA (excluding aniline) in the outside air varied from 3 ng/m3 (Siena) to 104 ng/m3 (Brindisi); aniline concentration was extremely variable. Most samples of outdoor air had AA levels lower than 40 ng/m3. In conclusion, AA are widespread air contaminants and attain a high concentration in heavily contaminated indoor environments, due to smoking and poor ventilation. AA occasionally attain a high level in outdoor air as well. Therefore, a strategy of reduction of the exposure to AA should consider the abatement of multiple sources of contamination.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, University of Florence, Italy.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Palmiotto
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Pieraccini
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Moneti
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Dolara
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D000397:Air Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000588:Amines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000506:poisoning; D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D007558:Italy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000588:Amines; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; C023650:aniline