PT03 Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Tuesday
(PT026) Spatial distribution of PBDEs in sediments receiving industrial effluents along Kuwait's marine coastline.
Gevao, B.1, Al-Ghadban, A.1, Zafar, J., 1 Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, Kuwait City, Kuwait
ABSTRACT- Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are a class of chemicals widely used as flame retardants in a variety of applications. As a result, they are found in quantifiable levels in different environmental matrices. Because of their striking resemblance in structure and properties to other widely studied persistent organic pollutants (POPs), they have attracted regulatory attention in North America and Europe. This study reports the spatial distribution of PBDEs in sediments samples collected from a 12 km stretch of coastline facing Shuaiba Industrial Estate in Southern Kuwait. Treated, or partially treated, industrial and municipal wastewater is discharged directly into the marine environment through several outlets. Discussion of the results will seek to identify possible land-based sources of these compounds to Kuwait's marine environment
Key words: Sediment, PBDEs, POPs, Industrial effluents