Plastic particle and tar pollution on beaches of Kuwait

Abstract

Twelve beaches on the northwestern Arabian Gulf coast of Kuwait were surveyed for the occurrence of plastic particles, tar balls and tar lumps. Particles were found on all beaches and were abundant on four: Suleibkhat, Fintas, Fahaheel and New Al Khiran. Most particles were composed of low-density polyethylene, but a few were of high-density polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene. Many were weathered and had traces of tar. Tar lumps and balls were present on all beaches, but were not as abundant as was expected, considering the heavy volume of oil tanker traffic in this region of the Arabian Gulf. Tar appeared to be less abundant than it was in 1979. With at least 33 plastics factories operating on the coast of Kuwait, it is possible that plastic particles occur more abundantly than has been observed in this study. The high winds and concurrent wave activity, which often vary in strength and direction but regularly occur here, probably play an important role in dispersing plastic particles which are washed up on to these beaches, making it difficult to accurately measure their abundance.