title: Benzene exposure in a sample of population residing in a district of Florence, Italy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Personal exposure to airborne benzene is influenced by various outdoor and indoor sources. The first aim of this study was to assess the benzene exposure of a sample of urban inhabitants living in an inner-city neighborhood of Florence, Italy, excluding exposure from active smoking. The secondary objective was to differentiate the personal exposures according to personal usage patterns of the vehicles.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample of 67 healthy non-smokers was monitored by passive samplers during two 4-weekday campaigns in winter and late spring. Simultaneously, benzene measurements were also taken for a subset of participants, inside and outside their houses. A 4-day time microenvironment activity diary was completed by each subject during each sampling period. Other relevant exposure data were collected by a questionnaire before the sampling. Additional data on urban ambient air benzene levels were also available from the public air quality network. The passive samplers, after automated thermal desorption, were analyzed by GC-FID.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Benzene personal exposure levels averaged 6.9 (SD=2.1) and 2.3 (SD=0.7) microg/m(3) in winter and spring, respectively. Outdoor and indoor levels showed high correlation in winter and poor in spring. In winter the highest benzene personal exposure levels were for people traveling by more public transport, followed by users of only car and by users of only bus respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The time spent in-transport for work or leisure makes a major contribution to benzene exposure among Florentine non-smoking citizens. Indoor pollution and transportation means contribute significantly to individual exposure levels especially in winter season.
authors: Occupational-Environmental Epidemiology Unit, Centre for the Study and Oncology Prevention, S. Salvi street 12, Florence, Italy. mc.fondinelli@cspo.it
authors: M Cristina
authors: MC
authors: Fondelli
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Bavazzano
authors: Daniele
authors: D
authors: Grechi
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Gorini
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Miligi
authors: Gaetano
authors: G
authors: Marchese
authors: Isabella
authors: I
authors: Cenni
authors: Danila
authors: D
authors: Scala
authors: Elisabetta
authors: E
authors: Chellini
authors: Adele Seniori
authors: AS
authors: Costantini
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001554:Benzene