TRAFFIC AIR-POLLUTION IN KUWAIT - PRELIMINARY-RESULTS FOR NITROGEN-OXIDES AND CARBON-MONOXIDE

At 21 locations within the city of Kuwait, continuous weekly measurements were made of oxides of nitrogen (NO(x)) and of carbon monoxide (CO): analyses were made using a chemiluminescent NO(x) analyser and a gas filter correlation ambient CO analyser. At 90% of the locations, the daily mean NO(x) concentrations exceeded 50 ppb, and in peak traffic hours the levels often reached 500 ppb. Similarly, the daily mean concentration of CO at 88% of the locations was greater-than-or-equal-to 8 ppm, and at three locations the CO concentrations were > 20 ppm. Throughout the week, daily differences were noted, with the lowest concentrations of pollutants recorded at the weekends. The influence of meterological parameters was examined. The results showed that traffic was a major source of pollution in the city of Kuwait.