High concentration of dust in Cyprus and officials warn the public

Cyprus Department of Labour Inspection prompted the public to avoid open areas due to the high concentration of dust recorded in Cyprus on Saturday, 11 May 2024.

“The public, and particularly any vulnerable groups of population (children, older people, and the infirm) are urged to avoid circulating in open spaces until the observed episode has elapsed, as the small size of respirable particles in dust may have negative effects on human health” the Department said in a press release.

The Department also pointed out that employers, 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), must take appropriate measures (organizational and/or technical) after assessing any risks that their employees may face while working in open spaces, and it is recommended that workers in such spaces use appropriate means of personal protection.

Furthermore, the Department published the hourly levels registered at 08:00 local time which significantly exceeded the 50 μg/m3 levels. In Nicosia the levels were 652.3 μg/m3, in Limassol 218 μg/m3, in Larnaka 919.8 μg/m3, in Paralimni 334.5 μg/m3, in Pafos 167.6 μg/m3, in Zygi 373 μg/m3 and in Agia Marina Xyliatou 849.1 μg/m3.

It is noted that ‘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 not to be exceeded is set for the daily average concentrations at 50 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter).

More information on the measured pollutant concentrations and real-time updates is available online at www.airquality.gov.cy and also through the free mobile application ‘Air Quality Cyprus’.

CNA/GS/GV/2024