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Contamination of Residual Chlorine and Formation of Halogenated Hydrocarbons at the Vicinity of Desalination Plant in Kuwait



Author(s)

S. B. Al-Shammari¹ and and L. Ali²

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DOI:10.17265/2161-6221/2018.9-10.003

1. Environmental Health Department, College of Health Sciences, The Public Authority for Applied Education and Training (PAAET), P.O. Box 14281, Faiha 72853, Kuwait
2. Environmental Science Department, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, PO Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait

Seawater desalination is one of the major industrial activities along the coastline of Kuwait that poses profound environmental impact on the quality of seawater. This study focuses on investigating the potential contamination of biocides, volatile organic hydrocarbons (VOCs) and other halogenated hydrocarbons discharged from Az-Zour desalination plant. Chemical contamination by residual chlorine (RC) and some VOCs was detected in effluents from inside and at the vicinity of the plant. RC ranged between 0.15 and 0.49 mg/L while bromoform (CHBr3) was the highest of all the VOCs detected and ranged between 0.22 and 3.30 μg/L. Benzinoides (benzene, toluene, xylene and ethylbenzene) were also detected at 0.1 μg/L and 0.25 μg/L. The levels of RC as measured in the vicinity of the Az-Zour plant are below the limit set up by Kuwait EPA. However, it still poses effects to the nearby aquatic life and therefore, it is important to lower the concentration of RC in the discharge effluent.

Desalination, impact, seawater, biocides, assessment.