§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what information he has on the levels of airborne benzene at various locations within the United Kingdom;
(2) what information he has on airborne benzene levels in countries other than the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. BaldryThe averages of hourly concentrations of benzene in air, measured in the Department's air quality research programme in 1982–83 were: 1.6 parts per billion (ppb) at a rural site, 2.7 ppb at a site by a busy motorway and 9.3 ppb by a major road in a city centre. The maximum hourly means measured at the three sites were 6 ppb, 12.7 ppb and 26.4 ppb respectively.
The levels found in the United Kingdom are consistent with measurements reported elsewhere. The United States Environmental Protection Agency report mean concentrations of 2.8 ppb in urban areas, 1.8 ppb in suburban areas and 0.16 ppb in remote rural areas. A mean concentration of 2.6 ppb has been reported for Sydney, Australia.