EXPOSURE TO VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS AND CARBON MONOXIDE OF ADULT POPULATION IN MILAN (EXPOLIS STUDY)

摘要

Exposure to CO, TVOCs, benzene, toluene and xylenes of 50 Milan office workers was studied during 48 consecutive hours (EXPOLIS study). Urine samples for the determination of benzene, toluene and xylenes concentrations were collected at the end of the monitored period. VOC indoor levels resulted higher than the outdoor levels due to the presence of indoor sources. VOC urine concentrations confirmed that active smoking is an important source of benzene exposure in office workers, and also passive smoking seems to be of some importance. Subjects were exposed to higher CO levels in indoor environments when they were exposed to ETS and/or gas cooking than without these factors, in particular in public environments (mean value more than 3 ppm). Subjects were exposed to high CO levels during commuting, in particular in cars (5.79 ppm).