Nabeel Al-Khulaifi - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Nabeel Al-Khulaifi

Research paper thumbnail of Kuwait's 1991 environmental tragedy: lessons learned

Disaster Prevention and Management, Jun 19, 2009

PurposeIraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990 precipitated an ecological tragedy in the ... more PurposeIraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990 precipitated an ecological tragedy in the Arabian Gulf region. During the course of the invasion Kuwait suffered severe losses to both its oil industry and its ecological system. The scale of damage was enormous, ranging from destruction as a result of oil fires and spills to the economic deterioration of Kuwait's oil industry. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the lessons learned from Kuwait's oil well catastrophe in the hope of preventing or at least minimizing future such man‐made disasters.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews and analyzes Kuwait's oil well tragedy in terms of its scope, logistical services provided to cope with the disaster, the techniques used in firefighting operations and related political issues. The paper also discusses the need to review existing environmental laws and the concept of environmental crime in light of this catastrophe.FindingsThere are many important lessons that can be drawn from Kuwait's catastrophic disaster, the most important of which is to ensure that dictators in the future never believe they can destroy the environment without severe repercussions from the international community.Practical implicationsThe conflagrations in Kuwait demonstrate the dangerous consequences of large‐scale modern combat in an environmentally fragile area. Not just Kuwait but all oil‐producing nations, especially the Gulf countries, are vulnerable to this type of environmental and economic disaster.Originality/valueKuwait's tragedy highlights the need for immediate consideration of possible similar disasters in the future and how the global community will deal with them. The high cost of environmental degradation only gets more expensive when left unattended. The price is paid not only in hard currency for firefighting but in damage to the public's health and in other environmental problems. This paper shows that sustainable development is impossible in the presence of wars and terrorist activities.

Research paper thumbnail of Benzene exposure from automobiles fuelled with petrol

Research paper thumbnail of Seasonal and Temporal Variations in Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor and Outdoor Air in Al-Jahra City, Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2014

Indoor and outdoor air samples were simultaneously collected from the largest office building in ... more Indoor and outdoor air samples were simultaneously collected from the largest office building in Jahra City during 57 sampling events between August 2010 and November 2011. The collected samples were analyzed for 78 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using CO2 cryogenic preconcentration and GC/MS analysis. Of the 48 VOCs detected, the toluene concentration exceeded the recommended air quality guidelines in 2% of the outdoor samples, and the benzene concentration exceeded these guidelines in 17.5% and 19.5% of the indoor and outdoor samples, respectively. Industrial and vehicle emissions were negligible. Emissions from oil fields, various crude oil production and flaring activities in the north were major sources of VOCs in the ambient air. The VOC profiles; seasonal, monthly, and weekday/weekend variations; and their effects on ozone formation potentials are discussed. The results indicate that the most abundant class of chemical compounds was oxygenated compounds, of which acetone, acetaldehyde, propanal, methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol were the most dominant species. Propene and toluene were the most abundant species of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Household Storage and Plumbing Systems on the Levels of Trace Elements in Desalinated Drinking Water in Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2012

Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consum... more Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consumption points at 99 locations representing more than 95% of the residential areas in Kuwait were analyzed for 25 trace elements and water quality parameters. Only Al, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn were found to be over-represented at the consumption point compared with the outdoor point, with wide variations among the sampling locations and elements. The highest increases were observed for Fe (135%) and Zn (123%), followed by Pb (69%), Co (58%), Cu (42%), Cr (31%), and Al (30%), and the lowest increase was observed for Ni (19%). In most cases, the increases in Cu, Fe, and Zn were inversely proportional to the conductivity and directly proportional to the Cl − concentration. In the outdoor samples, only Fe exceeded the US-EPA guideline (in 3% of the outdoor samples taken), whereas Fe, Pb, and Ni exceeded the US-EPA and WHO guidelines in 8.5%, 0.3%, and 1% of the indoor consumption point samples, respectively. Thus, leaching from household utilities may cause health concerns for consumers of drinking water in Kuwait. The increases in Fe were the highest in the summer (240%), and in this regard, Fe exhibited the greatest difference between summer and winter (the increase was 139% higher in the summer). The results of the present study may be useful for water production authorities and consumers in Kuwait and suggest the use of alternative new pipes with more resistant internal coatings and connecting techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds at Office Buildings in Kuwait

Air, soil and water research, 2013

A total of 800 indoor (I) and outdoor (O) air samples from eight large office buildings (LOBs) we... more A total of 800 indoor (I) and outdoor (O) air samples from eight large office buildings (LOBs) were analyzed for 78 VOCs using the latest sampling and preconcentration technology. Of these VOCs, 73 and 66 were detected in the I and O samples, respectively, at various levels and proportions. The I/O ratios were .1, and ethanol exhibited the highest ratio of 14.7. The levels of aliphatic hydrocarbons were higher in LOBs located in the southern region of Kuwait, where the majority of industrial activities are located. By contrast, these levels were significantly lower in LOBs located in the northern and far northern regions, where industrial activities are absent. There was evidence of CFCs leaking from HVAC systems in several of the LOBs. BTEX inter-species ratios suggest that vehicular emissions contributed less to the outdoor air composition at the LOB at Jahra compared to other LOBs. Alcohols and carbonyls were the first and second most abundant classes of chemicals, respectively, in the VOC mixtures at the LOBs. None of the VOCs exceeded the recommended air quality limits.

Research paper thumbnail of Corrigendum for “Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds at Office Buildings in Kuwait”

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), Jun 1, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of A new method for simultaneous analysis of semi-volatile organic compounds in outdoor/indoor air of large office buildings

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, Jun 7, 2018

Exposure to various groups of SVOCs, particularly in the indoor air, is of increasing concern wor... more Exposure to various groups of SVOCs, particularly in the indoor air, is of increasing concern worldwide. These groups include PAHs, PCBs, phthalate esters, organochlorines, and many others, which are classified among the priority organic pollutants. A new method was developed and optimized for simultaneous whole air sampling using recent canister/helium diffusion technology followed by online cryogenic trapping, concentration of the SVOCs, and direct on-column injection into the GC/MS. The method was optimized using 25 SVOCs (seven of PAHs, eight of PCBs, four of phthalates, three OCs, and three of others) and tested in the analysis of 294 air samples, which were collected from the outdoor and the indoor at eight large office buildings on 21 different dates from January 2011 to August 2011. The method detection limits ranged from 0.05 ppbv for 2,4-dinitrobenzene to 2.6 ppbv for chrysene. Phthalates were the most abundant among other SVOCs, whereas fluorine and dichlorobiphenyl were the most abundant among the PAHs and PCBs, respectively. The I/O ratios of most SVOCs were < 1, indicating that the outdoor air was the main source of indoor pollutants. The method demonstrated: (1) accurate and efficient for various SVOCs determination, which allowed assessment of the factors affecting their levels in the sampling locations, and (2) the capability of reliable use of recent technology which eliminates the disadvantages of using sorbents and solvents by the current methods.

Research paper thumbnail of Respiratory and cardiovascular effects of ambient particulate matter from dust storm and non-dust storm periods in Kuwait

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2022

Epidemiological studies demonstrate a positive association between daily changes in concentration... more Epidemiological studies demonstrate a positive association between daily changes in concentrations of ambient airborne particulate matter (PM) and adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. However, physicochemical properties of PM can vary greatly across geographical, atmospheric, and temporal conditions and influence the relative toxicity of airborne PM. The purpose of this study was to investigate the adverse pulmonary and cardiovascular health effects of ambient PM collected from discrete sampling sites in Kuwait during dust storm (DS) and non-dust storm (NDS) conditions. Collected dust samples were characterized for their chemical composition using atomic absorption, GC–MS, and HPLC–MS analyses. Male BALB/cJ mice were exposed to 100 µg of either NDS or dust storm (DS) PM in 50 µl of PBS by oropharyngeal aspiration. Lung function was measured and bronchoalveolar lavage was conducted at 1, 7, and 14 days post-exposure. Ischemia–reperfusion injury was performed 24 h af...

Research paper thumbnail of 130530 - VOCs OBs K.uwait 01

Research paper thumbnail of A new method for simultaneous analysis of semi-volatile organic compounds in outdoor/indoor air of large office buildings

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2018

Exposure to various groups of SVOCs, particularly in the indoor air, is of increasing concern wor... more Exposure to various groups of SVOCs, particularly in the indoor air, is of increasing concern worldwide. These groups include PAHs, PCBs, phthalate esters, organochlorines, and many others, which are classified among the priority organic pollutants. A new method was developed and optimized for simultaneous whole air sampling using recent canister/helium diffusion technology followed by online cryogenic trapping, concentration of the SVOCs, and direct on-column injection into the GC/MS. The method was optimized using 25 SVOCs (seven of PAHs, eight of PCBs, four of phthalates, three OCs, and three of others) and tested in the analysis of 294 air samples, which were collected from the outdoor and the indoor at eight large office buildings on 21 different dates from January 2011 to August 2011. The method detection limits ranged from 0.05 ppbv for 2,4-dinitrobenzene to 2.6 ppbv for chrysene. Phthalates were the most abundant among other SVOCs, whereas fluorine and dichlorobiphenyl were the most abundant among the PAHs and PCBs, respectively. The I/O ratios of most SVOCs were < 1, indicating that the outdoor air was the main source of indoor pollutants. The method demonstrated: (1) accurate and efficient for various SVOCs determination, which allowed assessment of the factors affecting their levels in the sampling locations, and (2) the capability of reliable use of recent technology which eliminates the disadvantages of using sorbents and solvents by the current methods.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Household Storage and Plumbing Systems on the Levels of Trace Elements in Desalinated Drinking Water in Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2012

Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consum... more Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consumption points at 99 locations representing more than 95% of the residential areas in Kuwait were analyzed for 25 trace elements and water quality parameters. Only Al, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn were found to be over-represented at the consumption point compared with the outdoor point, with wide variations among the sampling locations and elements. The highest increases were observed for Fe (135%) and Zn (123%), followed by Pb (69%), Co (58%), Cu (42%), Cr (31%), and Al (30%), and the lowest increase was observed for Ni (19%). In most cases, the increases in Cu, Fe, and Zn were inversely proportional to the conductivity and directly proportional to the Cl − concentration. In the outdoor samples, only Fe exceeded the US-EPA guideline (in 3% of the outdoor samples taken), whereas Fe, Pb, and Ni exceeded the US-EPA and WHO guidelines in 8.5%, 0.3%, and 1% of the indoor consumption point samples, respectively. Thus, leaching from household utilities may cause health concerns for consumers of drinking water in Kuwait. The increases in Fe were the highest in the summer (240%), and in this regard, Fe exhibited the greatest difference between summer and winter (the increase was 139% higher in the summer). The results of the present study may be useful for water production authorities and consumers in Kuwait and suggest the use of alternative new pipes with more resistant internal coatings and connecting techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Household Storage and Plumbing Systems on the Levels of Trace Elements in Desalinated Drinking Water in Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2012

Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consum... more Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consumption points at 99 locations representing more than 95% of the residential areas in Kuwait were analyzed for 25 trace elements and water quality parameters. Only Al, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn were found to be over-represented at the consumption point compared with the outdoor point, with wide variations among the sampling locations and elements. The highest increases were observed for Fe (135%) and Zn (123%), followed by Pb (69%), Co (58%), Cu (42%), Cr (31%), and Al (30%), and the lowest increase was observed for Ni (19%). In most cases, the increases in Cu, Fe, and Zn were inversely proportional to the conductivity and directly proportional to the Cl − concentration. In the outdoor samples, only Fe exceeded the US-EPA guideline (in 3% of the outdoor samples taken), whereas Fe, Pb, and Ni exceeded the US-EPA and WHO guidelines in 8.5%, 0.3%, and 1% of the indoor consumption point samples, respectively. Thus, leaching from household utilities may cause health concerns for consumers of drinking water in Kuwait. The increases in Fe were the highest in the summer (240%), and in this regard, Fe exhibited the greatest difference between summer and winter (the increase was 139% higher in the summer). The results of the present study may be useful for water production authorities and consumers in Kuwait and suggest the use of alternative new pipes with more resistant internal coatings and connecting techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of Benzene exposure from automobiles fuelled with petrol

Research paper thumbnail of Seasonal and Temporal Variations in Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor and Outdoor Air in Al-Jahra City, Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2014

Indoor and outdoor air samples were simultaneously collected from the largest office building in ... more Indoor and outdoor air samples were simultaneously collected from the largest office building in Jahra City during 57 sampling events between August 2010 and November 2011. The collected samples were analyzed for 78 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using CO2 cryogenic preconcentration and GC/MS analysis. Of the 48 VOCs detected, the toluene concentration exceeded the recommended air quality guidelines in 2% of the outdoor samples, and the benzene concentration exceeded these guidelines in 17.5% and 19.5% of the indoor and outdoor samples, respectively. Industrial and vehicle emissions were negligible. Emissions from oil fields, various crude oil production and flaring activities in the north were major sources of VOCs in the ambient air. The VOC profiles; seasonal, monthly, and weekday/weekend variations; and their effects on ozone formation potentials are discussed. The results indicate that the most abundant class of chemical compounds was oxygenated compounds, of which acetone, acetaldehyde, propanal, methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol were the most dominant species. Propene and toluene were the most abundant species of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Corrigendum for “Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds at Office Buildings in Kuwait&rdquo

Air, Soil and Water Research, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Kuwait's 1991 environmental tragedy: lessons learned

Disaster Prevention and Management, 2009

... Ali Mohamed Al-Damkhi, Department of Environmental Sciences – College of Health Sciences, Pub... more ... Ali Mohamed Al-Damkhi, Department of Environmental Sciences – College of Health Sciences, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET ... Separately, fires consumed from $50 to 100 million worth of oil each day (Ali, 1994; Garwin and Kendall, 1991; Tawfiq ...

Research paper thumbnail of Health Status Of Leisure Walkers In Kuwait

Bulletin of Alexandria …, 2010

... 5) Smoking: subjects smoking as a factor 6) Bokhur (sandal wood/essence): exposure to smoke f... more ... 5) Smoking: subjects smoking as a factor 6) Bokhur (sandal wood/essence): exposure to smoke from Sandalwood/Essence use 7) Gender: as a factor that may increase variability shown in the table, the odd ratio and the 95% confidence interval also reported. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds at Office Buildings in Kuwait

Air, Soil and Water Research, 2013

A total of 800 indoor (I) and outdoor (O) air samples from eight large office buildings (LOBs) we... more A total of 800 indoor (I) and outdoor (O) air samples from eight large office buildings (LOBs) were analyzed for 78 VOCs using the latest sampling and preconcentration technology. Of these VOCs, 73 and 66 were detected in the I and O samples, respectively, at various levels and proportions. The I/O ratios were > 1, and ethanol exhibited the highest ratio of 14.7. The levels of aliphatic hydrocarbons were higher in LOBs located in the southern region of Kuwait, where the majority of industrial activities are located. By contrast, these levels were significantly lower in LOBs located in the northern and far northern regions, where industrial activities are absent. There was evidence of CFCs leaking from HVAC systems in several of the LOBs. BTEX inter-species ratios suggest that vehicular emissions contributed less to the outdoor air composition at the LOB at Jahra compared to other LOBs. Alcohols and carbonyls were the first and second most abundant classes of chemicals, respective...

Research paper thumbnail of Kuwait's 1991 environmental tragedy: lessons learned

Disaster Prevention and Management, Jun 19, 2009

PurposeIraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990 precipitated an ecological tragedy in the ... more PurposeIraq's invasion of Kuwait on August 2, 1990 precipitated an ecological tragedy in the Arabian Gulf region. During the course of the invasion Kuwait suffered severe losses to both its oil industry and its ecological system. The scale of damage was enormous, ranging from destruction as a result of oil fires and spills to the economic deterioration of Kuwait's oil industry. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the lessons learned from Kuwait's oil well catastrophe in the hope of preventing or at least minimizing future such man‐made disasters.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews and analyzes Kuwait's oil well tragedy in terms of its scope, logistical services provided to cope with the disaster, the techniques used in firefighting operations and related political issues. The paper also discusses the need to review existing environmental laws and the concept of environmental crime in light of this catastrophe.FindingsThere are many important lessons that can be drawn from Kuwait's catastrophic disaster, the most important of which is to ensure that dictators in the future never believe they can destroy the environment without severe repercussions from the international community.Practical implicationsThe conflagrations in Kuwait demonstrate the dangerous consequences of large‐scale modern combat in an environmentally fragile area. Not just Kuwait but all oil‐producing nations, especially the Gulf countries, are vulnerable to this type of environmental and economic disaster.Originality/valueKuwait's tragedy highlights the need for immediate consideration of possible similar disasters in the future and how the global community will deal with them. The high cost of environmental degradation only gets more expensive when left unattended. The price is paid not only in hard currency for firefighting but in damage to the public's health and in other environmental problems. This paper shows that sustainable development is impossible in the presence of wars and terrorist activities.

Research paper thumbnail of Benzene exposure from automobiles fuelled with petrol

Research paper thumbnail of Seasonal and Temporal Variations in Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor and Outdoor Air in Al-Jahra City, Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2014

Indoor and outdoor air samples were simultaneously collected from the largest office building in ... more Indoor and outdoor air samples were simultaneously collected from the largest office building in Jahra City during 57 sampling events between August 2010 and November 2011. The collected samples were analyzed for 78 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using CO2 cryogenic preconcentration and GC/MS analysis. Of the 48 VOCs detected, the toluene concentration exceeded the recommended air quality guidelines in 2% of the outdoor samples, and the benzene concentration exceeded these guidelines in 17.5% and 19.5% of the indoor and outdoor samples, respectively. Industrial and vehicle emissions were negligible. Emissions from oil fields, various crude oil production and flaring activities in the north were major sources of VOCs in the ambient air. The VOC profiles; seasonal, monthly, and weekday/weekend variations; and their effects on ozone formation potentials are discussed. The results indicate that the most abundant class of chemical compounds was oxygenated compounds, of which acetone, acetaldehyde, propanal, methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol were the most dominant species. Propene and toluene were the most abundant species of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Household Storage and Plumbing Systems on the Levels of Trace Elements in Desalinated Drinking Water in Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2012

Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consum... more Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consumption points at 99 locations representing more than 95% of the residential areas in Kuwait were analyzed for 25 trace elements and water quality parameters. Only Al, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn were found to be over-represented at the consumption point compared with the outdoor point, with wide variations among the sampling locations and elements. The highest increases were observed for Fe (135%) and Zn (123%), followed by Pb (69%), Co (58%), Cu (42%), Cr (31%), and Al (30%), and the lowest increase was observed for Ni (19%). In most cases, the increases in Cu, Fe, and Zn were inversely proportional to the conductivity and directly proportional to the Cl − concentration. In the outdoor samples, only Fe exceeded the US-EPA guideline (in 3% of the outdoor samples taken), whereas Fe, Pb, and Ni exceeded the US-EPA and WHO guidelines in 8.5%, 0.3%, and 1% of the indoor consumption point samples, respectively. Thus, leaching from household utilities may cause health concerns for consumers of drinking water in Kuwait. The increases in Fe were the highest in the summer (240%), and in this regard, Fe exhibited the greatest difference between summer and winter (the increase was 139% higher in the summer). The results of the present study may be useful for water production authorities and consumers in Kuwait and suggest the use of alternative new pipes with more resistant internal coatings and connecting techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds at Office Buildings in Kuwait

Air, soil and water research, 2013

A total of 800 indoor (I) and outdoor (O) air samples from eight large office buildings (LOBs) we... more A total of 800 indoor (I) and outdoor (O) air samples from eight large office buildings (LOBs) were analyzed for 78 VOCs using the latest sampling and preconcentration technology. Of these VOCs, 73 and 66 were detected in the I and O samples, respectively, at various levels and proportions. The I/O ratios were .1, and ethanol exhibited the highest ratio of 14.7. The levels of aliphatic hydrocarbons were higher in LOBs located in the southern region of Kuwait, where the majority of industrial activities are located. By contrast, these levels were significantly lower in LOBs located in the northern and far northern regions, where industrial activities are absent. There was evidence of CFCs leaking from HVAC systems in several of the LOBs. BTEX inter-species ratios suggest that vehicular emissions contributed less to the outdoor air composition at the LOB at Jahra compared to other LOBs. Alcohols and carbonyls were the first and second most abundant classes of chemicals, respectively, in the VOC mixtures at the LOBs. None of the VOCs exceeded the recommended air quality limits.

Research paper thumbnail of Corrigendum for “Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds at Office Buildings in Kuwait”

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), Jun 1, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of A new method for simultaneous analysis of semi-volatile organic compounds in outdoor/indoor air of large office buildings

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, Jun 7, 2018

Exposure to various groups of SVOCs, particularly in the indoor air, is of increasing concern wor... more Exposure to various groups of SVOCs, particularly in the indoor air, is of increasing concern worldwide. These groups include PAHs, PCBs, phthalate esters, organochlorines, and many others, which are classified among the priority organic pollutants. A new method was developed and optimized for simultaneous whole air sampling using recent canister/helium diffusion technology followed by online cryogenic trapping, concentration of the SVOCs, and direct on-column injection into the GC/MS. The method was optimized using 25 SVOCs (seven of PAHs, eight of PCBs, four of phthalates, three OCs, and three of others) and tested in the analysis of 294 air samples, which were collected from the outdoor and the indoor at eight large office buildings on 21 different dates from January 2011 to August 2011. The method detection limits ranged from 0.05 ppbv for 2,4-dinitrobenzene to 2.6 ppbv for chrysene. Phthalates were the most abundant among other SVOCs, whereas fluorine and dichlorobiphenyl were the most abundant among the PAHs and PCBs, respectively. The I/O ratios of most SVOCs were < 1, indicating that the outdoor air was the main source of indoor pollutants. The method demonstrated: (1) accurate and efficient for various SVOCs determination, which allowed assessment of the factors affecting their levels in the sampling locations, and (2) the capability of reliable use of recent technology which eliminates the disadvantages of using sorbents and solvents by the current methods.

Research paper thumbnail of Respiratory and cardiovascular effects of ambient particulate matter from dust storm and non-dust storm periods in Kuwait

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2022

Epidemiological studies demonstrate a positive association between daily changes in concentration... more Epidemiological studies demonstrate a positive association between daily changes in concentrations of ambient airborne particulate matter (PM) and adverse respiratory and cardiovascular health effects. However, physicochemical properties of PM can vary greatly across geographical, atmospheric, and temporal conditions and influence the relative toxicity of airborne PM. The purpose of this study was to investigate the adverse pulmonary and cardiovascular health effects of ambient PM collected from discrete sampling sites in Kuwait during dust storm (DS) and non-dust storm (NDS) conditions. Collected dust samples were characterized for their chemical composition using atomic absorption, GC–MS, and HPLC–MS analyses. Male BALB/cJ mice were exposed to 100 µg of either NDS or dust storm (DS) PM in 50 µl of PBS by oropharyngeal aspiration. Lung function was measured and bronchoalveolar lavage was conducted at 1, 7, and 14 days post-exposure. Ischemia–reperfusion injury was performed 24 h af...

Research paper thumbnail of 130530 - VOCs OBs K.uwait 01

Research paper thumbnail of A new method for simultaneous analysis of semi-volatile organic compounds in outdoor/indoor air of large office buildings

International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, 2018

Exposure to various groups of SVOCs, particularly in the indoor air, is of increasing concern wor... more Exposure to various groups of SVOCs, particularly in the indoor air, is of increasing concern worldwide. These groups include PAHs, PCBs, phthalate esters, organochlorines, and many others, which are classified among the priority organic pollutants. A new method was developed and optimized for simultaneous whole air sampling using recent canister/helium diffusion technology followed by online cryogenic trapping, concentration of the SVOCs, and direct on-column injection into the GC/MS. The method was optimized using 25 SVOCs (seven of PAHs, eight of PCBs, four of phthalates, three OCs, and three of others) and tested in the analysis of 294 air samples, which were collected from the outdoor and the indoor at eight large office buildings on 21 different dates from January 2011 to August 2011. The method detection limits ranged from 0.05 ppbv for 2,4-dinitrobenzene to 2.6 ppbv for chrysene. Phthalates were the most abundant among other SVOCs, whereas fluorine and dichlorobiphenyl were the most abundant among the PAHs and PCBs, respectively. The I/O ratios of most SVOCs were < 1, indicating that the outdoor air was the main source of indoor pollutants. The method demonstrated: (1) accurate and efficient for various SVOCs determination, which allowed assessment of the factors affecting their levels in the sampling locations, and (2) the capability of reliable use of recent technology which eliminates the disadvantages of using sorbents and solvents by the current methods.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Household Storage and Plumbing Systems on the Levels of Trace Elements in Desalinated Drinking Water in Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2012

Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consum... more Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consumption points at 99 locations representing more than 95% of the residential areas in Kuwait were analyzed for 25 trace elements and water quality parameters. Only Al, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn were found to be over-represented at the consumption point compared with the outdoor point, with wide variations among the sampling locations and elements. The highest increases were observed for Fe (135%) and Zn (123%), followed by Pb (69%), Co (58%), Cu (42%), Cr (31%), and Al (30%), and the lowest increase was observed for Ni (19%). In most cases, the increases in Cu, Fe, and Zn were inversely proportional to the conductivity and directly proportional to the Cl − concentration. In the outdoor samples, only Fe exceeded the US-EPA guideline (in 3% of the outdoor samples taken), whereas Fe, Pb, and Ni exceeded the US-EPA and WHO guidelines in 8.5%, 0.3%, and 1% of the indoor consumption point samples, respectively. Thus, leaching from household utilities may cause health concerns for consumers of drinking water in Kuwait. The increases in Fe were the highest in the summer (240%), and in this regard, Fe exhibited the greatest difference between summer and winter (the increase was 139% higher in the summer). The results of the present study may be useful for water production authorities and consumers in Kuwait and suggest the use of alternative new pipes with more resistant internal coatings and connecting techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Household Storage and Plumbing Systems on the Levels of Trace Elements in Desalinated Drinking Water in Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2012

Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consum... more Household desalinated drinking water samples collected from outdoor points and from indoor consumption points at 99 locations representing more than 95% of the residential areas in Kuwait were analyzed for 25 trace elements and water quality parameters. Only Al, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn were found to be over-represented at the consumption point compared with the outdoor point, with wide variations among the sampling locations and elements. The highest increases were observed for Fe (135%) and Zn (123%), followed by Pb (69%), Co (58%), Cu (42%), Cr (31%), and Al (30%), and the lowest increase was observed for Ni (19%). In most cases, the increases in Cu, Fe, and Zn were inversely proportional to the conductivity and directly proportional to the Cl − concentration. In the outdoor samples, only Fe exceeded the US-EPA guideline (in 3% of the outdoor samples taken), whereas Fe, Pb, and Ni exceeded the US-EPA and WHO guidelines in 8.5%, 0.3%, and 1% of the indoor consumption point samples, respectively. Thus, leaching from household utilities may cause health concerns for consumers of drinking water in Kuwait. The increases in Fe were the highest in the summer (240%), and in this regard, Fe exhibited the greatest difference between summer and winter (the increase was 139% higher in the summer). The results of the present study may be useful for water production authorities and consumers in Kuwait and suggest the use of alternative new pipes with more resistant internal coatings and connecting techniques.

Research paper thumbnail of Benzene exposure from automobiles fuelled with petrol

Research paper thumbnail of Seasonal and Temporal Variations in Volatile Organic Compounds in Indoor and Outdoor Air in Al-Jahra City, Kuwait

Journal of Environmental Protection, 2014

Indoor and outdoor air samples were simultaneously collected from the largest office building in ... more Indoor and outdoor air samples were simultaneously collected from the largest office building in Jahra City during 57 sampling events between August 2010 and November 2011. The collected samples were analyzed for 78 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using CO2 cryogenic preconcentration and GC/MS analysis. Of the 48 VOCs detected, the toluene concentration exceeded the recommended air quality guidelines in 2% of the outdoor samples, and the benzene concentration exceeded these guidelines in 17.5% and 19.5% of the indoor and outdoor samples, respectively. Industrial and vehicle emissions were negligible. Emissions from oil fields, various crude oil production and flaring activities in the north were major sources of VOCs in the ambient air. The VOC profiles; seasonal, monthly, and weekday/weekend variations; and their effects on ozone formation potentials are discussed. The results indicate that the most abundant class of chemical compounds was oxygenated compounds, of which acetone, acetaldehyde, propanal, methanol, ethanol, and 2-propanol were the most dominant species. Propene and toluene were the most abundant species of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, respectively.

Research paper thumbnail of Corrigendum for “Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds at Office Buildings in Kuwait&rdquo

Air, Soil and Water Research, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Kuwait's 1991 environmental tragedy: lessons learned

Disaster Prevention and Management, 2009

... Ali Mohamed Al-Damkhi, Department of Environmental Sciences – College of Health Sciences, Pub... more ... Ali Mohamed Al-Damkhi, Department of Environmental Sciences – College of Health Sciences, Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET ... Separately, fires consumed from $50 to 100 million worth of oil each day (Ali, 1994; Garwin and Kendall, 1991; Tawfiq ...

Research paper thumbnail of Health Status Of Leisure Walkers In Kuwait

Bulletin of Alexandria …, 2010

... 5) Smoking: subjects smoking as a factor 6) Bokhur (sandal wood/essence): exposure to smoke f... more ... 5) Smoking: subjects smoking as a factor 6) Bokhur (sandal wood/essence): exposure to smoke from Sandalwood/Essence use 7) Gender: as a factor that may increase variability shown in the table, the odd ratio and the 95% confidence interval also reported. ...

Research paper thumbnail of Indoor and Outdoor Volatile Organic Compounds at Office Buildings in Kuwait

Air, Soil and Water Research, 2013

A total of 800 indoor (I) and outdoor (O) air samples from eight large office buildings (LOBs) we... more A total of 800 indoor (I) and outdoor (O) air samples from eight large office buildings (LOBs) were analyzed for 78 VOCs using the latest sampling and preconcentration technology. Of these VOCs, 73 and 66 were detected in the I and O samples, respectively, at various levels and proportions. The I/O ratios were > 1, and ethanol exhibited the highest ratio of 14.7. The levels of aliphatic hydrocarbons were higher in LOBs located in the southern region of Kuwait, where the majority of industrial activities are located. By contrast, these levels were significantly lower in LOBs located in the northern and far northern regions, where industrial activities are absent. There was evidence of CFCs leaking from HVAC systems in several of the LOBs. BTEX inter-species ratios suggest that vehicular emissions contributed less to the outdoor air composition at the LOB at Jahra compared to other LOBs. Alcohols and carbonyls were the first and second most abundant classes of chemicals, respective...