Dust Events and Indoor Air Quality in Residential Homes in Kuwait.

Kuwait is a developed Middle Eastern country that is impacted by frequent dust storms from regional and/or remote deserts. The effectiveness of keeping homes tightly closed during these events to reduce dust exposures was assessed using indoor and outdoor particle samples at 10 residences within the metropolitan Kuwait City area. Specifically, this study compared indoor and outdoor levels of black carbon and 19 trace elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Br, Sr, and Zr) during dust and non-dust events and found that particle penetration efficiencies were lower during dust storm events (less than 20-30%) than during non-dust storm events (40-60%).

Acute effects of air pollution on mortality: A 17-year analysis in Kuwait.

Background: The health burden from exposure to air pollution has been studied in many parts of the world. However, there is limited research on the health effects of air quality in arid areas where sand dust is the primary particulate pollution source.

Objective: Study the risk of mortality from exposure to poor air quality days in Kuwait.

Coupling external with internal exposure metrics of trihalomethanes in young females from Kuwait and Cyprus.

The Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle Eastern regions are both understudied in terms of possible environmental health risks for their populations. Water scarcity and desalination treatment provide the general population of countries from these regions (e.g.

Use of visual range measurements to predict fine particulate matter exposures in Southwest Asia and Afghanistan.

Unlabelled: Military personnel deployed to Southwest Asia and Afghanistan were exposed to high levels of ambient particulate matter (PM). However, quantitative ambient exposure data for conducting health studies are limited due to a lack of PM monitoring stations. Since visual range (VR) is proportional to particle light extinction, VR can serve as a surrogate for PM (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.

Source apportionment of fine particles in Kuwait City.

This study investigated major sources of PM2.5 in the atmosphere of Kuwait based on a sampling program conducted between February 2004 and October 2005. Three source identification techniques were used in this study: (1) a positive matrix factorization model; (2) backward trajectory profiles; and (3) concentration rose plots.

Characterization of particulate matter for three sites in Kuwait.

Many studies have shown strong associations between particulate matter (PM) levels and a variety of health outcomes, leading to changes in air quality standards in many regions, especially the United States and Europe. Kuwait, a desert country located on the Persian Gulf, has a large petroleum industry with associated industrial and urban land uses. It was marked by environmental destruction from the 1990 Iraqi invasion and subsequent oil fires.