Comparative assessment of ambient air quality in two urban areas adjacent to petroleum downstream/upstream facilities in Kuwait

Abstract

-Air quality data (ground level ozone (O 3 ), NO, NOx, SO 2 , CO, H 2 S and NH 3 ) of two Kuwaiti urban areas adjacent to petroleum processing facilities, Fahaheel and Al-Riqa, were analyzed and compared to evaluate: (1) the exceedances of the Kuwait Environment Public Authority (KUEPA) air quality limits, (2) primary air pollution sources and their contribution to the ambient load, (3) diurnal patterns of air pollutants and (4) the "weekend effect" on O 3 levels. High O 3 levels, above the threshold limit for human health, were observed in both urban areas. CO, NOx and NO levels in Fahaheel were higher than in Al-Riqa. Combustion sources (which exist close to Fahaheel) drive both NOx and NO diurnal patterns in both areas. Emissions from downstream facilities and the activity of Fahaheel highway affect the CO levels in the areas. Concentration roses were plotted for annual durations to examine the primary dominant sources of air pollution in both study areas. By establishing a Chemical Mass Balance (CMB) model around the two receptor points in both areas, it was revealed that the downstream facilities sector was the main contributor of air pollutants in Fahaheel. CMB model gave a 70% average contribution of the sector to the Fahaheel receptor point. However, 70% of the total contribution of the studied sources in Al-Riqa urban area was from the traffic and line sources side. The examination of the rate of O 3 accumulation, during the high O 3 period in Kuwait (April-October), revealed the occurrence of two phases, a fast and a slow one, with different durations in each urban area. Regression equations were used to study the midweek effect of O 3 levels. This study supports the hypothesis that O 3 weekend variation is due to an NOx emission difference between weekends and weekdays and VOCs sensitivity.

Measurement of Air Pollution in Kuwait City Using Passive Samplers

“…Also higher traffic emissions contribution is particularly evident in winter season. Generally speaking, the measured volatile organic compounds seem to behave in a way similar to each other, and the main source of VOC pollutants in Kuwait city comes from motor vehicles, although industrial sources are also relevant [6]. However, the low measured concentrations of VOCs indicate that they mostly decay before reaching the city, thus confirming that the contribution of the oil industry sources in Kuwait is minimal.…”

“…The seasonal variation in ambient levels varies from component to component. For example, SO 2 during the winter season, reflects an increase in emissions (16.3 µg/m 3 ) associated with domestic heating in Kuwait city and a decrease in the rate of the gas-phase loss of SO 2 via chemical conversion to sulfate or in part a result of short-range transport of SO 2 from oil fields., while a dramatic decrease during the summer is mainly associated with prevailing wind direction NW that transports the SO 2 from oil fields away from Kuwait city [6]. The change in "normality" behavior between winter and summer months, an increase of concentrations up to 6.8 µg/m 3 on average, may also be explained considering that SO 2 emissions may be likely associated to the nearby Power Plant located upwind of the city.…”

Investigating Ozone Ambient Levels: Case Study of the Fahaheel Urban Area, State of Kuwait

“…About 100,000 residents are reported to reside in the area which is also adjacent to the state's largest oil refinery (Mina Al-Ahmadi, MAA). All refineries, including MAA comprising Kuwait's three refinery belt alongside Mina Abdullah (MAB) and Shuibah (SHU), are located on the southern side of the main shopping area of Fahaheel (downtown) [14]. On the southern side of the area there are also petrochemical industries and other small private (cottage) industries.…”

“…On the southern side of the area there are also petrochemical industries and other small private (cottage) industries. Readers are referred to Al-Salem and Khan [14] for a satellite image depicting main routes for commuting and industrial sites around Fahaheel.…”

Elemental Composition and Concentration of Atmospheric Particulate Matter in Kuwait

“…The PM levels in Kuwait's cities have been on the rise, attributable to a significant increase in vehicular traffic-the number of vehicles in 2004 was 1.042 million, whereas this number reached to 1.916 million in 2014 (KEPA, 2014). Traffic remains the main source of air pollution in Kuwait's cities, while upstream/downstream industrial sources such as power plants, oil fields and various other industries contribute to a much lesser degree (Al-Salem and Khan, 2008). Table 1 shows the total PM 10 and PM 2.5 emission rates from various sources in Kuwait city.…”