by Mr. Bassel Y. Shuhaibar

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are highly stable compounds which are used as pesticides or are found in the industrial world, especially involving combustion processes. The 12 internationally recognized POPs seem to pose an Environmental and health threat around the world. They are characterized as being persistent in the environment, as well as being able to travel long distances, accumulate in the tissue and cause a wide range of negative health effects on humans and animals.

In the State of Kuwait, the responsible authorities are very much involved with solving the POPs problem which was only recently recognized as a priority and therefore has received a tremendous amount of attention. Since the import of DDT and various similar compounds are banned in Kuwait, Pesticides as a whole do not seem to pose a threat since fertile land and the growing of crops is extremely limited to a few greenhouse projects. The major POPs Kuwait is dealing with are PCBs , Dioxins and Furans.

The biggest issue Kuwait has dealt with concerning PCBs involves the post gulf war destruction of many transformers around the country, containing PCB liquid lubricant. Soon after liberation, the government of Kuwait together with the responsible Environmental authorities contracted foreign companies to partake in a major clean up job. Since PCBs persist in the environment for many years, it is certain that we have not yet reached this compounds half life yet. This means Kuwait and its people will definitely face an increase in health related illnesses, even after full disposal and management of this persistent organic pollutant. The other two POPs, Dioxins and Furans seem to be making the headlines in Kuwait recently. There has long been a problem with Dioxins and Furans being emitted into the air. Kuwait has taken a firm stand to start dealing with this problem immediately. The fact that Hospital incinerators burn many plastic by-products in Kuwait seems to support the theory that there is a definite decrease in air standards due to these products. Major combustion processes, especially in the Petroleum industry, seem to add a great deal to this problem, as well as Asphalt mixing installation processes, traffic emissions and hazardous / non-hazardous waste incineration. The increase in dumping of plastics in Kuwait’s old unlined, ill-managed and uncapped landfills (dumping sites), raises the belief that there is a definite release of dioxin present.

Finally, since Kuwait is aware of the great negative effects of POPs, the EPA and government have looked towards: Firstly, using alternatives to liquid PCB lubricants and Secondly, have ordered new incinerators that have the capacity to reach the appropriate high temperatures needed to minimize Dioxin and Furan production, together with the appropriate filters, scrubbers and precipitators, as well as an exciting new move towards recycling of plastics on a local level.

Kuwait has also set up a management plan to dispose of these specific POPs mentioned which involve chemical dechlorination, microbial degradation, chemical waste landfills with up to date specific liners and gas / ventilation systems, rotary kiln incinerators and even cement kilns. Although this increasing trend of Environmental awareness is fairly new in this region, the presence of the EPA in Kuwait is ever-increasingly felt and much appreciated in all areas of planning and management in the construction, chemical, medical, industrial and petroleum arena.