WRITTEN QUESTION E-1090/00

by Erik Meijer (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(7 April 2000)

Subject: Ingress and retention of benzene from the outside air in homes; public health measures

1. Is the Commission aware of the recently published findings from research into benzene levels in the air, as reported, inter alia, in the American scientific journal Nature on 9 March 2000 and the New York Times on 14 March 2000, indicating that in all six European cities studied Antwerp, Athens, Copenhagen, Rouen, Padua and Murcia benzene levels were higher in the home than out of doors?

2. Can the Commission confirm that it has hitherto generally been assumed that excessive levels of benzene occurred only in the open air and in car repair workshops, due to direct emissions from motor vehicles, while levels of benzene in the home were substantially lower, the sole or principal explanation for its presence being the proximity of road junctions and poor insulation of dwellings?

3. What view does the Commission take of the hypothesis arising from the research that home furnishings in Northern European countries, which include relatively large amounts of linoleum, wood and carpeting, attract, absorb and retain more benzene from outside the home than dwellings in Southern Europe, where much use is made of bare stone or brick in floors, internal walls and roofs?

4. Does the Commission agree that excessive levels of benzene in the air especially inside the home are a hazard to public health and that, for example, the risk of developing leukaemia is significantly increased by excessive levels of this gas?

5. Does the Commission further agree that, if the reported findings are correct, people are exposed to far higher concentrations of benzene in everyday life than has previously been assumed, so that the maximum permitted levels of benzene in the open air (which have been assumed to be safe) are actually too high and should therefore be amended?

6. Drawing on the reported findings, will the Commission propose public-health measures to reduce emissions of benzene into the open air and prevent the gas's ingress into homes in so far as possible?

Answer given by Mr Byrne on behalf of the Commission

(8 June 2000)

1. Yes.

2. Yes, the exposure to excessive levels of benzene has generally, but not exclusively, been associated with outdoor factors.

3. It is too early to draw conclusions on the basis of this report, especially with regard to the ability of home furnishings to absorb benzene. It has to be noted, in this respect, that this is a hypothesis.

4. Yes, excessive levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, are recognised as an important risk factor in relation to cancer. This is reflected in the Community legislation in the matter in the environmental and worker protection areas.

5. Again, it is too early to draw conclusions on whether people are being exposed to far higher levels of benzene than previously assumed.

6. The Commission awaits any further research and any views of Member States, which are in the best position to assess any potential dangers, before taking a position on the scope of any further Community action. It should be noted, however, that the public health provisions of the EC Treaty, outlined in Article 152 (ex Article 129), do not provide for harmonising measures in the field of environmental safety. The Community worker protection and environmental provisions on benzene are, however, under regular review. Any new evidence of the nature raised in the Honourable Member's question will be taken into account in this respect.