Dust Events and Indoor Air Quality in Residential Homes in Kuwait
Open Access
- 2 April 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by MDPI AG in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Vol. 17 (7), 2433
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17072433
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.Funding Information
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (RD-835872)
- Harvard Kennedy School (NA)
This publication has 41 references indexed in Scilit:
- Particulate Matter–Induced Health Effects: Who Is Susceptible?Environmental Health Perspectives, 2011
- Climate Change, Tropospheric Ozone and Particulate Matter, and Health ImpactsEnvironmental Health Perspectives, 2008
- Desert DustEpidemiology, 2008
- Indoor particle dynamicsIndoor Air, 2004
- Indoor/outdoor relationship and chemical composition of fine and coarse particles in the southern California desertsAtmospheric Environment, 2002
- Characterization of indoor particle sources: A study conducted in the metropolitan Boston area.Environmental Health Perspectives, 2000
- Evaluation of the protective properties of organic coatings on copper pipes for refrigerator cooling circuitElectrochimica Acta, 1999
- Determination of volatile organic compounds in indoor and ambient air of residences in KuwaitEnvironment International, 1997
- Estimation of volatile organic compounds in Kuwaiti houses after the Gulf warEnvironmental Pollution, 1995
- Indoor exposures to fine aerosols and acid gases.Environmental Health Perspectives, 1991