Do concentrations of benzene and other volatile organic compounds meet EU air quality standards?

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are airborne compounds that cause respiratory irritations and other genetic and nervous disorders, depending on various factors such as length of exposure.

They are either emitted due to incomplete and inefficient combustion, or evaporate directly into the atmosphere.

They are present in many products containing solvents, such as paints. VOCs are also ozone precursors. The Malta Environment and Planning Authority monitors the VOCs known as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes. Benzene is mainly a result of incomplete combustion of petrol, and is considered to be harmful in any dose. Average annual concentrations of benzene declined by 32.5 per cent between 2008 and 2010, from 2.3μg/m³ to 1.6μg/m³, reflecting the decline in benzene levels in almost all localities.

This decline is most likely due to lower benzene content in imported gasoline. Similar to previous years, in 2010 no locality average exceeded the EU limit value of 5μg/m³.

Annual average ambient concentrations of the solvent toluene decreased by 54.5 per cent to 7.3µg/m³ in 2010.

The annual ambient concentration of ethylbenzene in 2010 was 2.2µg/m³, compared to 3.6µg/m³ in 2008, while annual ambient concentrations of mp-xylene and o-xylene were 6.5µg/m³ and 2.2µg/m³ respectively in 2010, down from the 9.7µg/m³ and 3.9µg/m³ concentrations in 2008. Declining annual ambient concentrations of the above pollutants are possibly linked to lower concentrations in imported gasoline.

For more information see The Environment Report Indicators 2010-2011 at http://www.mepa.org.mt/teri2010-2011.