Benzene in Alaska

Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation took indoor and ambient air samples during the winter of 1992-93 in Fairbanks. The samples showed a significant increase in the level of benzene in the air between December and February. The highest levels occurred in indoor air and exceeded workplace standards in garages. These findings were corroborated by NIOSH and OSHA personal monitoring studies done at the same time in Fairbanks and by blood samples taken by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from workers exposed to gasoline in December and February. The blood samples showed a 300 percent increase in the amount of benzene in worker's blood after MTBE was taken out of gasoline. The most likely cause of this air pollution is gasoline evaporation and exhaust emissions. The benzene content of Alaska gasoline is 5 percent which is the highest in the nation. In view of these findings the Environmental Protection Agency is funding a new study of indoor air organic compounds including benzene in Anchorage, Alaska.