Air quality assessment in Southern Kuwait using diffusive passive samplers

Abstract

Measurements of fortnightly average concentrations of NO, NO2, SO2, H2S, NH3, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (aromatics=benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m+p-xylene, ethyl benzene; non-aromatics=nonane and octane) were carried out in the period from 26/10/05 to 24/11/05 at 20 points in the southern part of Kuwait as part of a baseline environmental impact assessment study requested by Kuwait National Petroleum Company. Two waves of triplicate diffusive passive samplers were used. A high volume air sampler was used to measure PM10 too. During the sampling period, the wind was observed to be mainly from the west and northwest with an average of 4.28 m/s. The consistency of the results allowed the production of spatial distribution maps of the pollutants measured and consequently the comparison between levels of air pollution at different locations. A comparison between the measured concentrations and the applicable air quality standards promulgated by Kuwait Environment Public Authority (KEPA) showed that those compounds had low concentrations compared to both industrial and residential KEPA standards. For other compounds which are not covered by KEPA standards, the results were compared with relevant limits of US Environment Protect Agency (USEPA) and US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The comparison showed that the measured compounds had low concentrations compared to the existing standards and, accordingly, no violation of air quality standards is reported.

Comparison of NO2 and SO2 Measurements Using Different Passive Samplers in Tropical Environment

“…The average concentration of NO 2 measured in the first round robin test was not significantly different from that obtained during the second round robin test. These values were relatively higher than those recently measured in El Paso (6-18 ppb), Texas (Sather et al, 2007), Eskişehir of Turkey (11.4 ± 8.6 ppb) (Özden et al, 2008), Mulhouse (11.2 ± 3.2 ppb) of France (de Fouquet et al, 2007) and Az-Zour area (7.89 ppb) of Kuwait (Ramadan, 2010), while they were lower than the occurrence level in Beijing (48.9 ppb) (Meng et al, 2008). NO 2 level in Singapore was very close to the annual mean value (21.4 ppb, converted from 40 µg/m 3 ) of WHO guideline (WHO, 2005).…”

Monitoring and Modelling the Trends of Primary and Secondary Air Pollution Precursors: The Case of the State of Kuwait

“…Other sources of primary pollutants in Kuwait include power stations (operating on fossil fuels) and road traffic. A recent study by Ramadan [39] was concerned with measurements of fortnightly average concentrations of a number of primary pollutants, namely: NO, NO 2 , SO 2 , H 2 S, NH 3 , and VOCs. The study location was in southern Kuwait (Al-Zour); an area influenced by petroleum refining and electrical generation activities.…”

Evaluation of Nitrogen Oxides Pollution in Takamatsu and Utazu Area in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan

“…cardiopulmonary diseases, mortality rate and HROQL as previous studies. Second, although Ramadan reported that the NO distribution was similar to that of NO 2 [14], NO 2 /(NO + NO 2 ) in Takamatsu area was positively correlated with years. In general, toxicity of NO 2 is higher than that of NO in plants [6].…”