Objective To investigate the current status of benzene pollution in the indoor air of public places in Shaanxi province, China, and its carcinogenic risk to employees.

Methods In 2018, benzene monitoring was performed for 54 hotels, 27 barbershops, and 25 beauty shops, with 106 public places in total. The health risk assessment method was used to evaluate the carcinogenic risk of benzene in the air of the public places to employees.

Results The concentration of benzene did not exceed the national standard limit in these places, and there was a significant difference in the mean concentration of benzene in indoor air among the three types of public places (F = 24.25, P < 0.01); the concentration of benzene in barbershops and beauty shops was significantly higher than that in hotels (P < 0.05). Benzene in indoor air had a carcinogenic risk to both male and female employees in all three types of public places; the carcinogenic risk in barbershops and beauty shops was higher than that in hotels, and the carcinogenic risk to men was higher than that to women.

Conclusion Benzene in indoor air has a carcinogenic risk to employees in the three types of public places in the four cities of Shaanxi province, suggesting that supervision and management should be strengthened to reduce the concentration of benzene in public places and ensure the health of employees.