EVALUATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEVELS OF AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN GASOLINE SERVICE STATIONS BY GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHY

The volume of gasoline sold in refuelling operations and the ambient t emperature, can increase significantly the environmental levels of aro matic hydrocarbon vapours and subsequently, the occupational risk of g asoline service station attendants, specially in the case of benzene. We have evaluated the occupational exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons b y means of personal-breathing-zone samples of gasoline vapours in a se rvice station attendant population. This evaluation was carried out us ing diffusive samplers, in two periods at quite different temperatures (March and July), A significant relationship between the volume of ga soline sold during the shift and the ambient concentration of benzene, toluene, and xylenes was found for each worker sampled. Furthermore a significant difference was found between the time-weighted average co ncentration of aromatic compounds measured in March, with ambient temp eratures of 14-15 degrees C and July, with temperatures of 28-30 degre es C. In addition, 20% of the population sampled in the last period we re exposed to a time-weighted average concentration of benzene above t he proposed Threshold Limit Value of 960 mu g/m(3) of the American Con ference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). (C) 1997 Elsevi er Science B.V.