Figure 3.

Benzene concentrations (ppbv C₆H₆) measured in bedrooms furthest from open kitchens with the oven set to 475 °F for 1.5 h and then turned off for 6.5 h. Each point represents a single reading from the AROMA analyzer, and all data points collected are illustrated in the plot. Air-sampling hoses in houses 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 were placed in bedrooms ∼8 meters down the hall from the kitchen; the sampling hose in house 2 was in a bedroom ∼4 meters down the hall from the kitchen. The solid black line at 1 ppbv benzene represents the California OEHHA 8-h REL for noncancer effects;¹³ the solid black line at 8 ppbv benzene represents the California OEEHA acute REL.¹³ Several chronic benzene standards are plotted for comparison at the right with dashed black lines for Israel⁵⁹ and France⁶⁰ at the bottom (0.41 and 0.63 ppbv, respectively), two of the lowest chronic benzene standards globally; the European Union chronic health benchmark (1.56 ppbv), which is the most common chronic health benchmark globally;¹⁴ and, at the top, the chronic standard adopted by the US ATSDR (3.0 ppbv), a department affiliated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.⁶¹ We measured all concentrations in real time using the AROMA VOC analyzer. During the measurements, all interior doors of the houses were open, and no fans were used to mix the air.