The content of volatile hydrocarbons in the atmospheric air in Kraków as well as in the country in the vicinity of A-4 motorway was determined. The air was sampled to canisters made of electropolished stainless steel. The determinations of hydrocarbons were performed on a gas chromatograph equipped with a cryogenic trap and flame-ionization detector. The contribution of traffic to air pollution with volatile hydrocarbons both in built-up and open areas in the vicinity of busy motorways was estimated.