Benzene in the Royal Borough
Monitoring
Benzene is monitored in the Borough using diffusion tubes which are a passive
method. These are stainless steel tubes packed with an absorbent material. These
are collected after a two week exposure period and then analysed by a
laboratory. Monitoring takes place at
- Ladbroke Grove
- Holland Park
- Dovehouse St
- Pembridge Sq
- Petrol station
Long term trends
Monitoring in the Borough since 1992 shows:
- a significant downward trend has been observed at all sites.
- the highest concentrations have been observed at the petrol forecourt and
kerbside location.
- the lowest concentrations have occurred at the background and intermediate
locations.
However it is important to note that direct comparison with the objective level is difficult because the technique used does not collect continuous data, however if a comparison is made, this indicates that the levels are within the 2003 objective and the 2010 objective level. The only exception is the petrol station which is currently above the 2010 objective level.
Annual mean benzene levels - micrograms/cubic metre (mg/m3)
| 1994 |
16.25 |
5 |
9.0 |
13.1 |
10.2 |
14.8 |
27.3 |
| 1995 |
16.25 |
5 |
6.2 |
7.1 |
11.1 |
16.8 |
34.9 |
| 1996 |
16.25 |
5 |
5.1 |
6.8 |
10.6 |
15.6 |
15.7 |
| 1997 |
16.25 |
5 |
7.1 |
7.6 |
9.5 |
7.9 |
13.8 |
| 1998 |
16.25 |
5 |
3.4 |
3.9 |
5.8 |
6.1 |
14.7 |
| 1999 |
16.25 |
5 |
2.8 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
6.9 |
11.5 |
| 2000 |
16.25 |
5 |
3.1 |
2.6 |
4.2 |
5.1 |
11.4 |
| 2001 |
16.25 |
5 |
2.0 |
3.7 |
2.9 |
4.3 |
11.0 |
| 2002 |
16.25 |
5 |
1.8 |
2.1 |
2.6 |
4.9 |
12.5 |
| 2003 |
16.25 |
5 |
2.4 |
2.5 |
2.9 |
3.9 |
9.6 |
| 2004 |
16.25 |
5 |
1.2 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
2.1 |
9.5 |
|
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