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.