Kuwait Oil Fire Health Risks - Meeting with the U.S.

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                        UN~TEO STATES CENTRA~ COMMANO


                      OPERATION DESERT SHIEm APO NY 09852            AM


CCSG                                                      21 March, 1991

MEMORANDUM FOR RECORD

SUBJECT:   Kuwait Oil Fire Health Risks - Meeting with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency Assessment Team, 20 March 1991

1.    The  United States  Environmental Protection         Agency's team
assessing  the  health  risks from the Kuwaiti   oil       fires held  a
meeting at the United States Embassy,   Riyadh,  on 20 March 1991.
Attending   were  representatives  of  the  U.S.        Central  Command
Surgeon's   Office,  the  U.S.  Embassy,  and   the       U.S.  business
community.

2.   The EPA team consisted of Mr. Jim Makris, Mr. William F. Hunt,
Jr., Dr. Tim Garity, Dr. Paul J. Seligman, Mr. Alan Humphrey, and
Mr. Phil Coraman.

3.   Sampling in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia has consisted of both real
time particulate monitoring and volatile organics.        The particulate
monitoring consists of analysis for total particulates, aromatics,
and   metals.   Initial  assessment only  shows  much       lower  toxic
hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and sulfur dioxide (502) than was originally
feared.   Monitoring sites have included the following:

           U.S. Embassy, Kuwait - 1 night/2days
           Oil Well Fields      - 8 hours real time particulate
                (Ground Level)     8 hours particulate for
                                    qualitative analysis
           Fields - Al Maqwa, Al Amadi, Al Burgan, Al Wafrah

4.   Samples showed low readings in all four important parameters -
H25,  S02, fine oil particulate, and total particulate.         Downwind
areas showed increased particulates.   Samples from populated areas
are being taken to U.S. laboratories for characterization but total
particulate measurements were lower than expected.

5.   The Kuwait Ministry of the Environment has three units with air
monitoring   capability  that need  only  electrical       power  to  be
operational.    The EPA assessment teant also is recommending that
portable, battery operated, units capable of assessing the PM 10
(Particulate  Matter  of  less than  10 microns   -       the  size that
constitutes the respiratory threat) be obtained and utilized in the
assessment program.   The team has also developed a proposal for
long term Kuwait and Saudi Arabia air quality assessment to be
accomplished by local national assets.

6.    Clinical  assessment consists of evaluation of acute health
problems,   review   of  the  public health    infrastructure,       and
development of preventive measures and health advisories.          Acute
health   problems took  place  by  visits to   various      health  care