AbstractDue to the interest in reducing the benzene exposure limit from 10 to 1 ppm, the benzene exposure data collected since 1977 were compiled and evaluated. Some 38,000 data points representing either time‐weighted air samples or persons exposed were collected from five industries which produce and/or use benzene and two government organizations. Of the reported data, 87% represented exposure levels of 1.0 ppm or less. Petroleum and chemical operations where elevated exposure levels were reported included petrochemical and bulk loading operations. Benzol and by‐product plants in the iron and steel industry showed similar elevated resu