Concentration Levels and Impact Factors of Benzene Series in Chinese Residential Building

Abstract

From December 2016 to December 2017, the concentrations of the benzene series (benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethyl-benzene) in air were analyzed in 223 residential buildings in five climatic regions of China during different seasons. The arithmetic average concentrations of benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethyl-benzene were 6.78, 17.4, 17.68, and 9.87 μg·m-3, respectively. Indoor benzene series concentrations in China were slightly higher than that in other countries; the standard limits for indoor benzene series concentrations in China are much higher than those of other countries and organizations. Among the many factors affecting the concentration of the benzene series in the rooms, the relationship between the completion time of decoration, smoking, and cooking frequency and the concentration of benzene homologues was studied. The results showed that the concentration of toluene decreased with the prolongation of decoration time, the concentration of benzene in smoking households was higher than that in non-smoking families, and there was no direct correlation between cooking frequency and indoor concentration of the benzene series. The study provides statistical data on exposure to the benzene series in decorated homes and a discussion of setting values of relevant standards.