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 collecte d from the air conditioner filters from different residential areas of Kuwait were compared. The samples were collected between 1991 (when t he oil fires were raging) and 1996. The results showed that high level s of PAHs were present (16.7 mu g/g) in the sample collected from Ahma di, close to oil fires. The levels dropped sharply one year later (2.4 mu g/g) and continued the same trend to the present (1.6 mu g/g). The 1991 sample from Jahra (relatively close to northern oil fires) also showed elevated levels (11.1 mu g/g). However, the 1996 levels were al so high (10.7 mu g/g). The 1991 PAH levels in the dust from tile diffe rent residential areas of Kuwait were comparable to the levels in the sample from a residential area in Dubai (2.7 mu g/g). The 1996 levels in the AC filter dust from the same areas were not significantly diffe rent from 1991 levels. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.