Recommendation for an Air Quality Standard for Benzene

30. The Panel recommend an Air Quality Standard for benzene in the United Kingdom of 5 ppb as a running annual average. We also recommend that this Standard be reduced to the lower level of 1 ppb running annual average, and that the Government set a target date by which this be achieved.
31. These recommendations are intended to reduce the overall levels of exposure of the population to benzene such that ambient air pollution is no longer the main source of individual exposure, even for non-smokers. It is intended that techniques for monitoring the Standard be consistent with those of the Department of the Environment's Enhanced Urban Network.