BENZENE, TOLUENE AND XYLENES IN AIR, GEOGRAPHICAL-DISTRIBUTION IN THEPIEDMONT REGION (ITALY) AND PERSONAL EXPOSURE

The objectives of this study were the determination of: (a) benzene (B ), toluene (T) and xylene (X) air pollution in three sites of the Pied mont region (north-western Italy), (b) the relationship between BTX po llution in indoor, outdoor and personal air measured for a group of no n-smoking university students, (c) the influence of environmental toba cco smoke on the level of BTX exposure for indoor air environments. Re sults indicate (i) a direct relationship between human density and lev el of contamination and higher toluene pollution, (ii) an indoor/outdo or ratio of > 1 for all the three aromatics, (iii) a similar level of personal and indoor air contamination. Human exposure to BTX air pollu tion has been found to depend principally on indoor air contamination, not only on home pollution, but also, probably on many other confined environments.