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.
Highlights
Over the past few decades, a large number of air pollution health effects studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of ambient particulate matter (PM) [1,2,3,4,5]
Several studies have examined the health effects of exposure to dust storms and have associated them with mortality and other outcomes [14,15,16,17]. It is not well known which components of dust storms are responsible for the observed health effects
Ten typical residences located in the Kuwait City metropolitan area were studied during the period between September 2017 and March 2018
Summary
Over the past few decades, a large number of air pollution health effects studies have demonstrated the adverse effects of ambient (outdoor) particulate matter (PM) [1,2,3,4,5]. PM exposures is critical in developing cost-effective environmental policies to control air pollution emissions and to improve public health. Several studies have examined the health effects of exposure to dust storms and have associated them with mortality and other outcomes [14,15,16,17]. The effects of dust storms are exacerbated by the emissions from traffic as well
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