Long-term assessment of benzene concentration in air by passive sampling: A suitable approach to evaluate the risk to human health

A new model of sampling device (Analyst) based upon molecular diffusion has been tested for determination of benzene and other monoaromatics in air an d used for a monitoring campaign performed in Rome in 1998-99. Since the An alyst device provided optimum results when passive samplings were lasted fr om 4 to 12 weeks, its use seemed to be a very suitable way to assess the he alth risk for humans arising from organic pollution, because long-term samp ling is likely to be coupled with high spatial resolution.