Authorities on Monday issued a warning over high concentrations of dust in the atmosphere, urging people, especially those belonging to vulnerable groups, to avoid going outdoors.

People, and particularly the vulnerable groups of population including young children and the elderly, are urged to avoid 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 Air Quality Monitoring Network operated by the Department of Labour Inspection said.

Employers were also called on to take appropriate measures (organisational and/or technical) after assessing any risks that their employees may face while working in open spaces.

It was recommended that workers in such spaces use appropriate means of personal protection.

The latest hourly dust concentrations measured at 8am showed the highest concentrations of dust were 155.2 μg/m3 in Paphos followed by 126.7 μg/m3 in Limassol and 105.3 μg/m3 in Nicosia, while 68 μg/m3 was recorded in Zygi and 54.8 μg/m3 in Larnaca

According to the relevant legislation, the limit not to be exceeded is set for daily average concentrations of 50 μg/m3.

Dust refers to respirable particulate matter of a diameter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) in the air.

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