An analysis of factors that influence personal exposure to toluene and xylene in residents of Athens, Greece.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Personal exposure to pollutants is influenced by various outdoor and indoor sources. The aim of this study was to evaluate the exposure of Athens citizens to toluene and xylene, excluding exposure from active smoking.

Methods

Passive air samplers were used to monitor volunteers, their homes and various urban sites for one year, resulting in 2400 measurements of toluene and xylene levels. Since both indoor and outdoor pollution contribute significantly to human exposure, volunteers were chosen from occupational groups who spend a lot of time in the streets (traffic policemen, bus drivers and postmen), and from groups who spend more time indoors (teachers and students). Data on individual and house characteristics were obtained using a questionnaire completed at the

SUBMITTER: Alexopoulos EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1434731 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature