Passive sampler-derived air concentrations for polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in Kuwait.
The present study presents, to our knowledge, the first ambient air data for a range of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Kuwait. This was achieved by concurrently deploying polyurethane foam-disk passive samplers at 14 sites over a six-week period. Calculated mean sigma5PBDE concentrations (sum of brominated diphenyl ethers [BDEs] 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154) ranged from 2.5 to 32 pg/m3 of air, with BDE 47 contributing between 39 and 65% of the sigmaPBDEs detected. Differences in relative concentrations were observed between sites, with higher concentrations measured close to suspected sources. Calculated sigmaPAH concentrations ranged from 5 to 13 ng/m3 (mean, 8.3 ng/m3). The compound distribution was dominated by three- and four-ring compounds, which constituted approximately 90% of the sigmaPAHs, with phenanthrene contributing approximately 35%. However, the proportion of five- and six-ring PAHs increased around the "oil lakes," which were formed by the torching of oil wells during the 1991 Gulf War. The oil lakes are a reservoir of PAHs that will continue feeding the atmosphere as long as they remain untreated.
Gevao
Bondi
B
Department of Environmental Sciences, Environment and Urban Development Division, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, 13109 Safat, Kuwait. bgevao@safat.kisr.edu.kw
Al-Omair
Ali
A
Sweetman
Andy
A
Al-Ali
Lulwa
L
Al-Bahloul
Majed
M
Helaleh
Murad
M
Zafar
Jamal
J
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D007730:Kuwait; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis*; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D011786:Quality Control
D000393:Air Pollutants; D011075:Polybrominated Biphenyls; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds