Proposed method for setting standards for recreational divers diving in benzene polluted waters.
There are no recognized standards for recreational diving in benzene polluted waters. If daily absorption is limited to that absorbed from drinking 2-L of water at the recommended maximal contaminant limit concentration (9.7 microg per day), then permissible diving hours can be determined. A formula is proposed that calculates allowable monthly diving time based on dermal absorption, amount of water ingested, benzene concentrations in the water and in the sediment and the proportion of the body exposed.
Froom
Paul
P
Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel. paulfr@clalit.org.il
D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D004242:Diving; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D011998:Recreation; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001554:Benzene