Based on assessment of concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the atmosphere in Teplice in 1996 the authors evaluated the risk of benzene, toluene, xylene, methyl chloride, dichloromethane, trichlorofluoromethane and styrene in order to find out whether these substances can participate in the impaired health of the population. It was found that the VOC levels vary within the range commonly encountered in towns of developed countries, i.e. 4-6 orders below medians of occupational limits, much below the incipient onset of observ- able undesirable side effects and frequently below the range of detectability. It may be therefore concluded that the presence of volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere is not a significant health risk for the population of Teplice.

        Key words: volatile compounds - atmosphere - health risk - VOC