Abstract

In 1991, air particulate matter, was sampled in Bahrein when soot clouds were over that region. Also in that period Puff-model calculations were carried out for the Persian Gulf region to forecast the dispersion of the combustion products and the impact on the environment of the burning oil wells in Kuwait. Based on the outcome of the model calculations and the analytical findings the major conclusions are that: - the PAH contamination level of the air particulate matter is equal or below that found for rural areas in the Netherlands and on average one order of magnitude below the findings of the model calculations. - there is no link between the air particulate matter content and the PAH contamination measured. - the strongly significant correlation between the Ni- and V-content both mutually and with respect to the air particulate matter content strongly suggests a common origin i.e. the burning oil wells in Kuwait. - the air particulate matter content measured is one up to two orders of magnitudes over the findings of the model calculations. - the emission factors applied in the Puff-model calculations, most probably, unsufficiently match the combustion conditions of oil wells at fire.