EXPOSURE TO PARTICLE-BOUND POLYAROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN THE AL-MANSORIA RESIDENTIAL AREA DURING THE KUWAIT OIL FIRES - A QUALITATIVE APPRAISAL OF THE ADSORPTION ROLE

High ambient levels of inhalable particulate matter (PM10) were detect ed in residential areas during the oil well burning in Kuwait (Februar y-November 1991). Because inhalation exposures to PM10 were significan t (data on PAH quantification are scarce), it became possible to descr ibe the exposure to PM10-associated PAHs of alternative courses of eve nts, such as PAH-particle interaction mechanisms. Depending on particl e adsorption characteristics (affinity and site availability), it is c oncluded that, contrary to what is currently believed, low levels of a mbient PM10 levels did not indicate low PAH exposures in Al-Mansoria r esidential area during May 10-31, 1991. Due to the frequent presence o f dust particles in the ambient air caused by the heavy dust fallout i n Al-Mansoria (average > 65 tons/km2) during May, 1991. the predicted patterns can be explained by two hypothesized mechanisms. The first is a two-step process: loss of PAHs from low affinity sites and reabsorp tion onto stronger affinity ones leading to low surface coverage at hi gh PM10 concentrations. The second involves dilution of PAH-containing soot with aeolian particles. Both events can lead to low ambient PAHs at high PM10 levels or high ambient PAHs at low PM10 levels.