Analysis of ozone pollution in the Shuaiba industrial area in Kuwait

Analysis of ozone pollution in the Shuaiba Industrial Area of Kuwait was performed over a period of 12 months, from December 1994 to November 1995. The Shuaiba Industrial Area houses several large scale industries which include a petroleum refinery, a complex of petrochemical plants, cement plant, chlorine and soda factory, desalination plant, power station, and shipping port for oil export. Measurements were performed by a mobile station capable of measuring 18 pollutants and meteorological parameters. Measurements were made at 5 minute intervals and were stored on a data station. Variables used in the analysis included measured concentrations for ozone, nitrogen oxides, and non‐methane hydrocarbons. In addition, the meteorological parameters, which included air temperature, wind speed and direction, and solar radiation were used in the analysis. The collected data were averaged on hourly basis, which were used to generate a monthly hour‐averages. Reported data are shown to be consistent with literature data for similar urban pollution data. In this regard, the maximums of the hourly‐averages for ozone concentration coincided with the minimums for the concentrations of nitrogen oxides and non‐methane hydrocarbons. Ozone maximums occurred on daily basis during the period from 12 pm to 2 pm. Formation rates of ozone were found to decrease during the very hot summer season and the mild winter season. The highest ozone concentrations were measured during the spring, early summer, and fall periods.