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Dust Events and Indoor Air Quality in Residential Homes in Kuwait

Author

Listed:
  • Yufei Yuan

    (Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

  • Barrak Alahmad

    (Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
    Environmental and Occupational Health Department, Faculty of Public Health, Kuwait University, 12037 Kuwait City, Kuwait)

  • Choong-Min Kang

    (Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

  • Fhaid Al-Marri

    (Environmental Lab, Hawalli, Al-Rehab Complex, 36141 Kuwait City, Kuwait)

  • Venkateswarlu Kommula

    (Environmental Lab, Hawalli, Al-Rehab Complex, 36141 Kuwait City, Kuwait)

  • Walid Bouhamra

    (President, Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST), 32093 Kuwait City, Kuwait)

  • Petros Koutrakis

    (Environmental Health Department, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

Abstract

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%). Coarse particles had lower penetration efficiency compared to fine particles, which is due to differences in infiltration rates and settling velocities between these two size fractions. Our findings suggest that increasing home insulation could be an effective strategy to reduce indoor exposure to crustal particles from dust storm events in residential houses of Kuwait City.

Suggested Citation

  • Yufei Yuan & Barrak Alahmad & Choong-Min Kang & Fhaid Al-Marri & Venkateswarlu Kommula & Walid Bouhamra & Petros Koutrakis, 2020. "Dust Events and Indoor Air Quality in Residential Homes in Kuwait," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:7:p:2433-:d:340913
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dorina Gabriela Karottki & Michal Spilak & Marie Frederiksen & Zorana Jovanovic Andersen & Anne Mette Madsen & Matthias Ketzel & Andreas Massling & Lars Gunnarsen & Peter Møller & Steffen Loft, 2015. "Indoor and Outdoor Exposure to Ultrafine, Fine and Microbiologically Derived Particulate Matter Related to Cardiovascular and Respiratory Effects in a Panel of Elderly Urban Citizens," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Elisabeth Alonso-Blanco & Francisco Javier Gómez-Moreno & Elías Díaz-Ramiro & Javier Fernández & Esther Coz & Carlos Yagüe & Carlos Román-Cascón & Adolfo Narros & Rafael Borge & Begoña Artíñano, 2023. "Real-Time Measurements of Indoor–Outdoor Exchange of Gaseous and Particulate Atmospheric Pollutants in an Urban Area," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(19), pages 1-18, September.

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