Ali Al-Omair

Estimates of dietary exposure of children to artificial food colours in Kuwait.

To assess the intake of artificial food colour additives by 5–14-year-old children in the State of Kuwait, a 24-h dietary recall was conducted twice on 3141 male and female Kuwaiti and non-Kuwaiti children from 58 schools. The determination of colour additives in 344 foods items consumed was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector. A comparison with the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) was undertaken to evaluate the potential risk associated with the consumption of artificial colour additives by children in Kuwait. The results indicated that out of nine permitted colours, four exceeded their ADIs by factors of 2–8: tartrazine, sunset yellow, carmoisine and allura red. Further, follow-up studies to provide insight into potential adverse health effects associated with the high intakes of these artificial colour additives on the test population are warranted.

Dietary intake of organophosphate pesticides in Kuwait

Abstract The State of Kuwait, in cooperation with the U.S. FDA, conducted a total diet study (TDS) to estimate pesticide intake by the population. The organophosphate (OP) pesticide levels in 139 food items, constituting the TDS core list, are reported here. The TDS core food list was established through a nationwide food consumption survey. All foods were prepared as eaten, and analyzed for their organochlorine pesticide, OP, carbamate, benzimidazole and phenyl urea contents. The FDAs Multiresidue Methods, PAM I, were used employing GC, HPLC and GPC. Twenty-five of the foods analyzed contained OPs. These included 7 of 12 cereal products (chloropyriphos=0.03–0.21 ppm and fenetrothion=0.016–0.84 ppm), 6 of 16 vegetables (diazinon=0.05–0.2 ppm, and chloropyrifos, and fenthione sulfone), 1 of 16 fruits (monocrotophos) and 11 of 47 composite dishes (chloropyrifos methyl=0.011–0.089 ppm and fenetrothion 0.011–0.044 ppm). The higher levels of fenetrothion in one cereal product exceeded the MRLs, and warrant corrective and preventive measures. The daily intakes of OP pesticide residues are discussed in light of the ADIs of the FAO/WHO (1993). Codex Alimentarius. Pesticide residues in food (Vol. 2, 2nd ed.). Rome: Joint FAO/WHO Food Standards Programme.

Chlorinated pesticide residues in the total diet of Kuwait

Abstract Total diet of Kuwait was assessed for the residues of chlorinated pesticides. 140 core samples along with 90 additional samples (collected during 1995–96) were analyzed following US FDA multiresidue procedures. The results showed that 17.6% of the core samples contained detectable residues. Chlorpyrifos-methyl was present (ranging from 0.05 to 0.72 mg/kg) in most of the positive samples. Wheat flour was the single important source of this residue in the diet. Residues of chlorpyrifos, vinclozolin, procymidon and captan were also detected in some fresh fruits and vegetable. In general, residue levels were quite low and were significantly below the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established for these pesticides in food.

Dietary intake of pesticides : State of Kuwait total diet study

The State of Kuwait conducted a total diet study (TDS) to determine the dietary intakes of selected pesticides. This paper reports the results of this study. A national food consumption survey was performed and core food lists for different population groups were established representing the total diet of the Kuwaiti population. Food items (table-ready) were purchased/prepared and analysed for their contents of organophosphate/organochlorine carbamate, benzimidazole and phenylurea pesticides according to the US FDA Pesticide Analytical Manual (PAM I). Dietary intakes of these pesticides are presented for 19 population groups, which range from infants to elderly adults. The intakes of selected population groups are compared with representative findings from the US FDA/TDS and data published from other countries. In general, the average daily intakes were well below acceptable limits, but higher than those reported from developed countries.

COMPARISON OF THE LEVELS OF PAHs PRESENT IN THE DUST COLLECTED FROM DIFFERENT RESIDENTIAL AREAS OF KUWAIT, 1991-1996

Levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the dust collected from the air conditioner filters from different residential areas of Kuwait were compared. The samples were collected between 1991 (when the oil fires were raging) and 1996. The results showed that high levels of PAHs were present (16.7 μg/g) in the sample collected from Ahmadi, close to oil fires. The levels dropped sharply one year later (2.4 μg/g) and continued the same trend to the present (1.6 μg/g). The 1991 sample from Jahra (relatively close to northern oil fires) also showed elevated levels (11.1 μg/g). However, the 1996 levels were also high (10.7 μg/g). The 1991 PAH levels in the dust from the different residential areas of Kuwait were comparable to the levels in the sample from a residential area in Dubai (2.7 μg/g). The 1996 levels in the AC filter dust from the same areas were not significantly different from 1991 levels.

Iodine status among pregnant women in Kuwait.

Up to now, little has been known about iodine intake and the prevalence of iodine deficiency (ID), if any, in Kuwait. Urinary iodine excretion (UIE) and changes in thyroid function during pregnancy were thus evaluated. Methods: Urinary iodide level was measured in random urine samples collected from 326 pregnant women at different gestational trimesters. Blood samples were drawn for free T4 (FT4) and TSH level determination. Results: Median UIE levels fall within the normal range during all gestational trimesters i.e. >100 µg/l. However, if the new suggested recommendation for pregnant women <140 µg/l, is applied, median UIE values during trimesters 2 and 3 indicate ID. Mean serum TSH levels increased between trimesters 1 and 3 (p<0.05), whereas serum FT4 decreased between first and second trimesters (p<0.05), and this reduction continued at the third trimester. Furthermore, an increase in TSH levels for subjects with mild and moderate ID (Mi and Mo, respectively) were noticed (p<0.05) during the second trimester. However, FT4 levels dropped in subjects with Mi and Mo ID during the first trimester (p<0.05). In conclusion, these results suggest that 56.8% of pregnant women had median UIE level <145 µg/l, associated with high TSH and low FT4 levels. Conclusion: Data obtained may indicate insufficient iodine intake among pregnant women in Kuwait.