Benzene, annual average concentration in the Netherlands, 1991-2003
The annual average benzene concentration has fallen sharply since 1996 and would appear to have stabilised since 2000. The annual average benzene concentration has not exceeded the standard in the last ten years.
Benzene concentrations declining until 2000 and then stable
The trend for the annual average benzene concentration is downwards, and this is seen most clearly at street stations. The concentrations at street stations have fallen by more than half in the last seven years. The concentrations seem to have stabilised since 2000. The striking fall since 1996 is mainly the result of the introduction of the closed-loop three-way catalytic converter, technical improvements in passenger cars and the reduction of the concentrations of benzene in petrol. With effect from 1 January 2000, the standard for concentration of benzene in petrol was lowered from 5% to 1% (Staatsblad, 1999). However, samples taken by the environmental inspectorate showed that petrol already complied with this new standard in October 1999. The average concentration of benzene in petrol was between 2 and 2.5 per cent in the 1990s.
No exceedances of standard
The annual average background concentration of benzene in 2003 was 0.6 µg/m3. The annual average background concentrations varied between 0.1 en 3.7 µg/m3 in 2003. The European 2010 limit value of 5 µg/m3 for the annual average benzene concentration has not been exceeded in the Netherlands for a number of years now. Until 1 January 2006, the effective standard is 10 µg/m3 because of the permitted exceedance of 5 µg/m3.
Highest concentrations in urban areas with industry
Increased concentrations are mainly found in urban areas in the Randstad urban agglomeration. The highest values are found in urbanised areas with a lot of industrial activity, so that the contributions from traffic and major point sources from the storage and transhipment of fuels coincide. This situation is found, for example, in the Rijnmond (Rhine estuary) area.
European standards for exposure to benzene
The EU has adopted a number of limit values for the concentration of benzene in air in order to protect the public against the effects of chronic exposure. Since December 2000, a new EU standard has been in force on the basis of the '2nd daughter directive'. The new EU standard provides for a limit value of 5 µg/m3 with a permitted exceedance of 100% until 1 January 2006. The permitted exceedance then starts to decline by 1 µg/m3 annually to 0%. From 1 January 2010 onwards, then, compliance with the limit value van 5 µg/m3 will be required.
Sources of benzene
Benzene is a volatile aromatic component of petrol, and road traffic is an important source. More than half of the benzene in the Netherlands is from foreign sources. This is because benzene remains in the atmosphere for a fairly long time (a few days). The highest concentrations are found in urbanised areas with a lot of industrial activity and close to motorways because of the effect of local sources.
Impact of benzene on health
Benzene has a toxic action on blood and blood-forming tissue. Benzene is also a carcinogen; exposure can result in leukaemia.
Compared to other risk factors, aromatics at the current concentrations are considered to represent a limited risk only. Exposure to some aromatics, the best known of which is benzene, can harm health. De Hollander and Brunekreef estimate the mortality rate caused by benzene in the Netherlands at three a year. The estimate for benzene in terms of disability adjusted life years is 140 DALYs/jaar.
Exposure of the public to benzene
The Dutch public is exposed to relatively low benzene concentrations that are well below the prevailing limit. In 2003, less than 1% of the population suffered chronic exposure to annual average background values of benzene in excess of 2 µg/m3 (2.0 - 3.7 µg/m3).
Technical note
The trend for the annual average benzene concentrations at three regional, two urban and four street stations is based on measurements from the National Air Quality Measurement Network (LML). The trend for areas with high benzene concentrations is indexed using the annual average benzene concentrations established by measurements from at least three stations in the Rijnmond area of the monitoring network of the Rijnmond Environmental Service (DCMR). Other data are based on the nationwide picture for 2003 (not shown). This annual average benzene map is obtained on the basis of measurements from the National Air Quality Measurement Network in combination with models. The exposure of the population is determined using the annual average benzene map and a population-density map.
References
- Hollander and Brunekreef (2003). Hollander, A.E.M. de and B. Brunekreef (in print, 2003). Valuing the health impacts of air pollution: deaths, DALYs or dollars. In: Ayers, J., Maynard, B. (eds.) Air Pollution. London: Imperial College Press.
- EU (2000). Council Directive 2000/69/EG of 16 November 2000 relating to limit values for benzene and carbon monoxide in ambient air (link to PDF file). Official Journal of the European Communities No L 313/12.
- RIVM (2003). Data based on measurements from the National Air Quality Measurement Network; processed by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. RIVM, Bilthoven.
- DCMR (2003). Data based on measurements from the Rijnmond Environmental Service processed by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. RIVM, Bilthoven.
- Staatsblad (1999). Besluit van 17 december 1999, houdende uitvoering van de richtlijn 98/70/EG van het Europees parlement en de Raad van de Europese Unie van 13 oktober 1998, betreffende de kwaliteit van benzine en dieselbrandstof en tot wijziging van Richtlijn 93/12/EEG van de Raad (Besluit kwaliteitseisen brandstoffen wegverkeer). Bulletin of Acts, Orders and Decrees 566, 1-14. (Link naar website overheid.nl)
Relevant sections and indicators in the Environmental Data Compendium
- Air quality alongside traffic routes in the Netherlands, 1990-2002
- National air quality: policy
- National air quality: overview of standards
- Particulate matter and VOC, emissions by target sector in the Netherlands, 2002*
Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium
- More information about concentrations of substances in the air can be found on the site of the National Air Quality Measurement Network.
- RIVM (2004). Jaaroverzicht luchtkwaliteit 2002. RIVM, report 500 037 004, Bilthoven.
- RIVM (2002). Jaaroverzicht luchtkwaliteit 2001. RIVM, report 725 301 009, Bilthoven.
- RIVM (2002). Jaaroverzicht luchtkwaliteit 2000. RIVM, report 725 301 008, Bilthoven.
- RIVM (2001). Jaaroverzicht luchtkwaliteit 1998 en 1999. RIVM, report 725 301 006, Bilthoven.
- Information about current and future developments relating to local air pollution can be found in the Environmental Balance 2005 and the National Environmental Outlook 2000-2030.
