Authorities warned the public for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday to take precautions because of high concentrations of dust in the atmosphere.

People, especially those belonging to vulnerable groups, were urged to avoid going outdoors, as the small size of respirable particles “may have negative effects on human health”, the labour inspection department said.

Employers must also take appropriate measures (organisational 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, it added.

The highest dust concentration levels were recorded in the capital, followed by Larnaca and Paphos.

The latest hourly dust concentrations measured at 7am were 96.4 μg/m3 in Nicosia, 35 μg/m3 in Limassol, 61.7 μg/m3 in Larnaca and 52.7 μg/m3 in Paphos.

In Paralimni, the dust concentrations were at 49 μg/m3, in Zygi at 36.6 μg/m3 and in Ayia Marina Xyliatou at 46.3 μg/m3.

More information is available online at www.airquality.gov.cy, and through the free mobile application “Air Quality Cyprus”.