Majed Al-Bahloul

Distribution of petroleum hydrocarbon in sediment from coastal area receiving industrial effluents in Kuwait

Sediment samples from the coastal area facing Shuaiba industrial area (15 x 1.5 km(2)) were examined for contamination with petroleum hydrocarbons. Aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediment extracts were characterized largely by unresolved complex mixture from nC(22)-nC(33). The sediment samples from the upstream area facing Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery to Shuaiba Harbor were heavily polluted with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) possibly due to the higher depth in the area created for a navigational channel to the harbor. PAHs at these locations exceeded the probable effect levels with reference to sediment quality guidelines.

Seasonal variations in the atmospheric concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers in Kuwait.

The study reports fortnightly atmospheric concentrations of PBDEs concomitantly measured at an urban and a remote location over a twelve-month period in Kuwait to examine seasonal variability and urban-rural concentration gradients. The annual mean (and range) of ∑PBDE concentrations was 32 (3-208) pgm(-3) at the remote site and 57 (0.3-445) pgm(-3) at the urban site. Although not statistically significant, the median (29 pg m(-3)) and mean (57 pg m(-3)) concentrations at the urban location were higher than those measured at the remote location (18 and 29 pg m(-3) respectively), consistent with the view that urban centers are an important net source of these compounds to the environment. Although Clausius-Clapeyron plots showed statistically significant correlations (p<0.05) with temperature for low molecular weight congeners (BDEs 28, 47, 100), correlations with the ΣPBDE concentrations were not significant at both urban and remote sites. The seasonal variations in ΣPBDE concentrations were not markedly different at the urban location, but the median summer ΣPBDE concentration at the remote location was significantly higher than winter median ΣPBDE concentrations. The absence in seasonality at the urban location may be due to ongoing primary emissions in urban areas.