National Pollutant Inventory

Substances

Benzene: Sources of emissions

Industry sources

Releases to air from industries producing, using or handling benzene eg. rubber industry, oil refineries, chemical plants, footwear manufacturing, petrol.

Diffuse sources, and industry sources included in diffuse emissions data

Present in crude oil; cigarette smoke (will affect both active and passive smokers). Releases to air from service stations; evaporation of fuels during petrol refilling; releases to groundwater from underground storage tanks that leak.

Natural sources

Occurs naturally in volcanoes, forest fires, some plants and animals. Is present in crude oil.

Transport sources

Vehicle exhaust, Evaporation of vehicle fuels from motors and vehicle fuel tanks.

Consumer products

Glues, adhesives, household cleaning products, paint strippers, some art supplies and petrol. These products may contain benzene as a contaminant rather than a deliberately added component (e.g. Shellite may contain 0.1% benzene by volume).

Key

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Factory. Credit: Michael Lindquist