[Benzene emissions in the neighbourhood of filling stations]

BTXE-Immissions (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) were measured in 32 flats in the neighbourhood of 12 filling stations in Frankfurt on the Main. Mean benzene-concentration in the indoor air nearby filling stations was 10.2 micrograms/m3, whereas in reference flats 5.6 micrograms/m3 were measured. Maximum levels were 22.4 micrograms/m3 and 8.0 micrograms/m3. Indoor air levels were slightly higher than outdoor air contaminations. High Toluene-concentrations were not caused by the filling stations but by other commercial enterprises, such as paint shops. Mean ethylbenzene or xylene-concentrations in the neighbourhood of filling stations did not differ from the concentrations measured in the reference flats. Because of the cancerogenicity of benzene the benzene-contaminations in the neighbourhood of filling stations have to be lowered. The newly established German law to prevent gas leakage in filling stations will lead to some improvement in the future.