High concentrations of dust continue to be present in the air on Wednesday, the labour inspection department said, warning people to avoid circulating in outdoor spaces.

“The small size of respirable particles in dust may have negative effects on human health,” the department said, emphasizing vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly.

The Sahara dust episode, which begun early Sunday “was one of the worst on record,” the Senior Air Quality and Strategic Planning Head Dr Chrysanthos Savvides told the Cyprus Mail earlier this week.

Employers must take appropriate measures after assessing any risks that their employees may face while working in open spaces, and it is recommended that workers use appropriate means of personal protection.

The latest hourly dust concentrations measured at 8am were:

Nicosia: 157.2 μg/m3

Limassol: – μg/m3

Larnaca: 139.4 μg/m3

Paralimni: 153.5 μg/m3

Paphos: 122.1 μg/m3

Zygi: 75.1 μg/m3

Ayia Marina Xyliatou: 86.1 μg/m3

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 and real-time updates are available at www.airquality.gov.cy, and through the free mobile application “Air Quality Cyprus”.