Thursday, February 6, 2020

ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE CONCENTRATION OF DUST IN THE AIR IN CYPRUS 6 February



High concentrations of dust are observed in the air today, 6 February 2020, according to measurements
from ground Stations of the Air Quality Monitoring Network of Cyprus, operated by the Department 
of Labour Inspection.

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.

Employers must take appropriate measures (organizational 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.

In detail, the latest hourly dust concentrations measured at 11:00 am in the following areas are:
Lefkosia:                                57  μg/m3
Lemesos:                                44  μg/m3
Larnaka:                                 36  μg/m3
Pafos:                                     72  μg/m3
Paralimni:                              48  μg/m3
Zygi:                                       53  μg/m3
Agia Marina Xyliatou:           77  μg/m3

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’.
(EK/SCH)