High concentrations of dust are observed in the air on Monday, according to measurements from ground stations of the Air Quality Monitoring Network operated by the Department of Labour Inspection.
The Department issued a statement, urging the public and particularly any vulnerable groups of the population (children, older people, and the infirm) to avoid circulating in open spaces until the observed episode has elapsed, as the small size of respirable particles in the dust may have negative effects on human health.
Based on the Safety and Health at Work (Code of Practice for the Protection of Persons at Work During Dust Episodes) Order of 2022 (P. I. 410/2022), employers "must take appropriate measures (organisational and/or technical) after assessing any risks that their employees may face while working in open spaces". It is also recommended that workers in such spaces use appropriate means of personal protection.
Hourly dust concentrations measured at 10am were 40.1 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) in Nicosia, 133.0 μg/m3 in Limassol, 65.1 μg/m3 in Larnaca, 83.8 μg/m3 in Paralimni, 191.0 μg/m3 in Paphos, 42.7 μg/m3 in Zygi and 53.5 μg/m3 in Ayia Marina Xyliatou.
'Dust’ refers to respirable particulate matter of a diameter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) in the air. According to the relevant legislation, a limit value of 50 μg/m3, not to be exceeded, is set for the daily average concentrations.
More information on the measured pollutant concentrations and real-time updates is available online at www.airquality.gov.cy and through the free mobile application ‘Air Quality Cyprus’.