High dust concentrations in the air

The labour ministry on Tuesday issued a warning over high concentrations of dust in the atmosphere, urging people, especially vulnerable groups, to avoid going outdoors.

According to the announcement, vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, were urged to avoid open spaces until the phenomenon subsided.

“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 in Limassol with 100.6   μg/m3 followed by Paphos with 80.4   μg/m3 and Larnaca at 64.8   μg/m3.

Paralimni recorded 61.7   μg/m3, Nicosia 60.4   μg/m3 and Zygi 54.6   μg/m3.