Crude oil contains volatile organic compounds (VOC) which play a crucial role in oil tubing applications. These compounds such as aromatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (abbreviated BTEX) are toxic. The contamination of soil and groundwater must therefore be prevented. In the case of metallic pipes, this is not guaranteed due to metallic corrosion. Polymer materials, in contrast, are corrosion resistant. It is, however, possible that VOC escape due to permeation through polymeric materials. Hence, the objective of the present thesis is to investigate the permeability of plastics comprehensively with a special focus on piping applications. First, a literature study was conducted. Subsequently, several polymeric materials used in tubing applications as well as alternative barrier polymeric materials were selected for investigations. The permeation tests were done in a permeation chamber, developed by ofi (Austrian Research Institute, Vienna, A). This chamber provides a safe and quick characterization of the permeation of BTEX through thin plastic films. Furthermore, exposure tests in toluene as a representative of the BTEX were carried out in order to determine the influence of the media on the material specific properties. This influence was evaluated with physical characterization techniques employing Infrared Spectroscopy (IR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) and tensile tests. The results provide basic, comparative statements about the permeation properties of the materials. The measured material pool includes standard polymers (HDPE, PA6), barrier materials (ECTFE, PPS) and high barrier materials (PA12, PBT, PVDF). The increase in mass by exposing in toluene differs from below one percent (EVOH, HDPE and PA6) to more than three percent (ECTFE). One pipe material (polyphenylene sulfide - PPS) showed the highest increase in mass (more than 10 %) after an exposure time of two weeks. Accordingly PPS exhibited the most significant decrease in mechanical properties of all materials.