Application of passive sampling technique for monitoring of BTEX concentration in urban air: field comparison of different types of passive samplers.

Urban air background concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) were measured in 2007 in the Tricity area (Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot) and Tczew applying two types of passive samplers: Home-made permeation passive samplers and two diffusive passive samplers Orsa 5 (National Dräger) and Radiello (FS Maugeri). Differences between the time-weighted annual averages concentrations of BTEX obtained with two types of passive samplers were found in each of the sampling sites. The obtained results indicate that the BTEX concentrations measured in the urban air in the Tricity area and Tczew are slightly dependent on season; they are higher in winter and spring than in summer. However, the average values for benzene concentrations in the ambient air were low enough to satisfy the requirements of the European Directive 2000/69EC of the European Parliament, which stipulates a limit of 5 microg/m(3). The study brought useful data regarding the BTEX air concentrations in the investigated region. Good capability of passive samplers to show fluctuations in BTEX concentrations in atmospheric air was confirmed, which makes them applicable for air monitoring on the local scale.