Description of Outdoor Air Quality in the Arabian Peninsula: A Case Study of Kuwait

Protecting human health, well-being, and the environment necessitates the identification of air pollution threats with precise spatiotemporal detail. In this context, we investigated the hourly concentrations of six criteria air pollutants—sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), tropospheric ozone (O3), and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5)—from January 2021 to December 2022 at three distinct locations in the State of Kuwait: Al-Fahaheel, Al-Shuwaikh, and Al-Jahra. The concentration data were sourced from the Kuwait Environment Public Authority (KEPA). The selection of Kuwait as the focal point for this study is attributed to its representative nature of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, which are characterized by analogous meteorological conditions, rapid industrialization, a strong dependence on the oil and gas industry, and minimal use of public transportation, coupled with the availability of data. The objectives of this research were multifaceted: to analyze the descriptive statistics of individual criteria air pollutants to understand their baseline conditions; to evaluate the compliance of these pollutants with established ambient air quality standards by assessing exceedance frequencies; to uncover the hourly, weekly, and monthly temporal trends, thereby delineating the factors influencing these pollutants; to investigate the spatial distribution patterns of these pollutants across Kuwait to identify areas of heightened concern; and to explore the directionality of potential pollution sources by integrating wind pattern data with pollutant concentrations. This comprehensive approach aims to provide a holistic understanding of air quality dynamics within the region. The implications of this study are far-reaching, offering critical insights for regulatory bodies tasked with mitigating pollution sources and hence contributing to environmental protection and public health initiatives.