One World - An Indication on the State of our Environment (11)

Do benzene concentrations meet EU air quality standards?

Benzene becomes a pollutant in air when it is released through distribution of petrol and through incomplete combustion of petrol in vehicle engines. Benzene is mutagenic and carcinogenic and is considered to be harmful in any dose (Nolle, M., Vella L. and Axisa N. 2005. State of the Environment Report for Malta 2005: Background report on air quality).

As in previous years, average annual benzene concentrations in no localities in Malta exceeded the EU limit value of 5μg/m³, however average concentrations increased by eight per cent between 2005 and 2006, from 2.46μg/m³ to 2.66μg/m³. In terms of particular sites, 5 streets recorded an exceedance of EU quality standards. St Anne's Street in Floriana had the highest benzene concentration in 2006 at 7.14μg/m, increasing by four per cent over the 2005 value. This was followed by Manuel Dimech Street in Sliema, which recorded an increase of 10 per cent, up from 4.73μg/m³ in 2005 to 5.20μg/m³ in 2006.

While these results appear to contrast with the decreasing trends evident in previous years (average annual benzene concentrations decreased by 27 per cent in 2005), since the values are low, the increase is still within the limits of variation, and the overall decreasing trend may be assumed to continue.

Source: Mepa

Environmental tip: Minimise your use of fuels, in particular by using efficient cars and avoid evaporation when giving petrol to the car.