High dust levels persist on Friday

Dust levels remain persistently high for the seventh day on Friday, although respite is on the way later today, when the dust is expected to gradually start clearing.

According to an announcement from the department of labour inspection, concentrations of dust at 7.00 am in the following areas were: Nicosia: 92.4 μg/m3; Limassol 100.6 μg/m3; Larnaca 88.3 μg/m3; Paralimni 98.0 μg/m3; Paphos 109.8 μg/m3; Zygi 74.5 μg/m3 and Ayia Marina Xyliatou 118.9 μg/m3.

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 of labour inspection said.

Employers must take appropriate organizational and/or technical measures 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 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”.