Ismail M. Madany

Heavy metals in street and house dust in Bahrain

A total of 106 street and household dusts have been sampled throughout Bahrain and analyzed for Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni and Cr using the atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The sampling sites were divided into seven categories, including the control site. Results showed that dust samples contained significant levels of the metals studied compared with the control values. The mean values for Pb, Zn, Cd, Ni and Cr in street dust were 697.2, 151.8, 72.0, 125.6 and 144.4 μg g−1 respectively, whereas for household dust they were 360.0, 64.4, 37.0, 110.2 and 144.7 μg g−1. These values suggest that motor vehicles form a major source of these metals in dust samples. The values of heavy metals in dust samples in this study were compared with values found in other investigations in various countries. With respect to Ni, elevated concentration could be attributed to smoke from the burning of Kuwait oil fields. Also correlations between metal levels in dust samples for all the metals were investigated. Our results show that heavy metal levels in various sites in Bahrain are similar, which indicate that Bahrain can be considered as one big urban center with high population and traffic density.

The correlations between heavy metals in residential indoor dust and outdoor street dust in Bahrain

The lead, zinc, cadmium, chromium, and nickel contents in both indoor house dust and outdoor street dust from 76 sites in Bahrain were determined by ICP-ES. The results showed widespread heavy metal contamination, especially lead, with an overall mean value in house dust for Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Ni of 517, 202, 1.9, 11, and 10, respectively. The mean values in street dust were 742, 67, 1.5, 9.6, and 12 mg/kg, respectively. The major source of metals in street dust was automobile exhaust. The major source of heavy metals indoors was also from automobile dust, i.e., lead and nickel. With respect to zinc, cadmium, and chromium, indoor sources were more important than outdoor sources. The distribution of lead both indoors and outdoors in Bahrain showed high levels of contamination occurring generally in the north and northeastern part where traffic is concentrated. The levels of these toxic metals found in indoor house dust may be a significant source of exposure, especially for children.

Trace metals concentrations in marine organisms from the coastal areas of Bahrain, Arabian Gulf

A total of 162 fish and shellfish samples representing important species have been collected from different coastal areas of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf, and analyzed for lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrophotometric method. The dverall mean levels for Pb, Cd, Hg and As in fish samples were 0.132, 0.032, 0.084 and 1.7 µg g−1 wet weight, respectively, whereas for shellfish they were 0.149, 0.045, 0.042 and 3.61 µg g−1 wet weight. These values indicate higher levels of metals in shellfish when compared with fish, except for mercury, and reveal that generally the levels of metals in these organisms are lower than existing guidelines, except for arsenic.The provisional tolerable weekly intake of Pb, Cd, Hg and As through fish was estimated to be 0.7, 0.17, 0.45 and 9 µg kg−1 bodyweight per week, respectively. Our results did not reveal a clear pattern regarding variations of metals concentration between areas and species.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nickel and vanadium in air particulate matter in Bahrain during the burning of oil fields in Kuwait

Inhalable air particulate matter (APM) was collected in Bahrain from July 31, 1991 to August 4, 1991, during the burning of the oil fields in Kuwait. The filters collected were black and the levels of APM ranged from 139 to 673 micrograms m-3 with an average value of 199 micrograms m-3. APM were analysed for their contents of PAHs, Ni and V. Analysis was carried out for 32 PAHs and total PAHs ranged from 3.1 to 9.1 ng m-3 and averaged 5.3 ng m-3. The highest individual PAH levels were benzo[ghi]perylene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene and indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene. The concentration of Ni and V ranged from 7 to 42 and 11 to 42 ng m-3, with an average value of 22 and 26 ng m-3, respectively. A strong correlation was found between Ni and V (r = 0.98, P less than 0.01). The results show that the smoke from burning oil wells in Kuwait has contributed to the concentrations of particulate matter, PAHs, Ni and V in APM in Bahrain.

Quality of water from some wells in saudi arabia

The quality of water from 388 wells in 6 regions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been investigated with respect to pH, total dissolved salts (TDS), nitrite, ammonium, nitrate, and faecal coliforms. Concentration of TDS varied widely, from 180 to 9350 mg L−1, with a mean of 754 mg L−1. Of the 388 wells, 72 (18.6%) were above the WHO limit of 1000 mg L−1. The levels of nitrate varied significantly, ranging from 0.0 to 95.2 mg L−1, with an average value of 20.7 mg L−1. About 7.7% of the tested wells had nitrate content above the WHO limit of 45 mg L−1, and 16% of the wells showed NH4+ levels greater than 0.05 mg L−1. Faecal coliforms were present in 21.4% of the tested well waters. The results indicated that significant nutrient and faecal coliforms contaminated of well water was occurring.

Assessment of lead in roadside vegetation in Bahrain.

Abstract Leaves from five species of trees were sampled at 18 locations in Bahrain and were analyzed for lead. Lead levels in leaves from areas with high traffic density were generally higher than lead levels in leaves from areas with low traffic density. The lead levels found in this study are in the range of 9μg/g to 420 μg/g, which is low compared to values reported for leaves of trees along busy roads in developed countries. However, the concentration of lead is increasing because of the extreme meteorological situation in Bahrain and the heavy traffic coming from other Gulf countries across King Fahad Causeway between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

The quality of groundwater in Bahrain

The quality of groundwater and house tap water throughout the State of Bahrain has been investigated with respect to pH, salinity, conductivity, bicarbonate, chloride, sulfate, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia and phosphate. Groundwater showed elevated levels for salinity, chloride, sulfate, sodium and magnesium, with ranges of 1.40-9.30 ppt, and 110-4407, 239-1385, 247-2165, and 36-313 mg l-1, respectively. These values increased from western Bahrain reaching maximum values along the southeastern coastal zone. Nitrate concentration ranged from 1.3 to 23.3 mg l-1 with an average value of 4.4 mg l-1. The results of the study indicate deterioration of groundwater in localized areas. In the case of tap water, the observed ranges for salinity, chloride and sodium were 0.7-1.5 ppt, and 280-750 and 140-400 mg l-1, respectively. The quality of tap water was assessed by comparing values with WHO guidelines.

Utilization of copper blasting grit waste as a construction material

Abstract The present study investigates the possibility of recycling a sand blasting grit (copper slag) generated from a major industry in Bahrain. The amount of grit waste arising is estimated to be around 6,000 tons per year, with approximately 30–40,000 tons stockpiled on site at the present. The physical and chemical analysis of the waste were studied. Mortar cubes 2″ × 2″ (25.4 × 25.4 mm) were casted of grit and an ordinary Portland cement at ratios by weight of 1:1 (500 g/kg and 500 g/kg), 1:3 (250 g/kg and 750 g/kg), and 1:4 (200 g/kg and 800 g/kg) of cement to grit, and a water/cement ratio by weight of 0.5 (500 g/kg). The Compressive strength at 3,7, and 28 days was determined. At 28 days strength values of 35, 34, and 33 N/mm 2 were obtained for mixes with ratios by weight of, 1:1, 1:3, and 1:4, respectively. Also concrete cubes of 150 mm × 150 mm were casted at different water/cement ratios. The compressive strengths were determined at 3,7, and 28 days, respectively. The grit was also incorporated in the manufacture of 15 cm concrete blocks. The results indicated an average compressive strength value of 12 N/mm 2 which was within the Bahrain specification for precast concrete blocks. The results of the investigation suggested that copper slag grit can be used as a replacement of marine sand used in mortars for concrete blockworks.

Measurement of air pollution in Bahrain

In the present study data from air monitoring station situated in North Sitra industrial area have been collected and analyzed in an attempt to assess air quality in Bahrain, and use the data as a baseline for future analysis. The parameters monitored during the period November 1986-May 1987 were: H/sub 2/S, NO/sub x/, NO/sub 2/, NO, SO/sub 2/, O/sub 3/, CO, CH/sub 4/, nonmethylated hydrocarbon (NMHC), as well as wind direction (WD) and wind speed (WS). The study shows that most pollutants are at lower levels compared to standards accepted by different countries, with the exception of CH/sub 4/ and NMHC. This could be attributed to the location of the station in the proximity of the power and desalination plants as well as a petrochemical industry.

Spatial and temporal distributions of aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons in the coastal waters of Bahrain

A comprehensive field study of the levels of aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons in water was conducted throughout the coastal areas of Bahrain in the Arabian Gulf. Fifty monitoring stations were established, and each station was visited twice during the investigation. Monitoring stations included industrial, ports, marinas and mooring stations, public beaches and residential stations, domestic outfall stations, and remote ‘background’ stations. The results of the survey revealed marked temporal and spatial variations in petroleum hydrocarbons concentrations in the sea water analyzed. The highest overall mean value was 88.5 μg/L measured in industrial areas and the lowest was 16.1 μg/L chrysene equivalent at remote stations. Generally, levels of petroleum hydrocarbons were high in all stations compared to other coastal areas in the Gulf, indicating a chronic oil pollution problem. The results revealed significant temporal variations, however, no specific patterns could be identified.The total land-based oil inputs to the coastal waters is estimated to be 31 metric tonnes/year measured as aromatic petroleum hydrocarbons.