CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST - HOW IT AFFECTS THE ATMOSPHERE IN CYPRUS - WHAT THE HEAD OF THE AIR QUALITY SECTOR ANSWERS ABOUT CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS - Filenews 18/3
The possibility of Cyprus' atmosphere being affected by chemical pollutants through dust incidents that may be linked to hostilities in the region is infinitesimal, said the head of the Air Quality Branch of the Department of Labour Inspection, Chrysanthos Savvidis.
In his statements, Mr. Savvidis said that based on scientific data and analyses carried out in the past in two different cases of hostilities in the region of Syria and Israel, no concentrations of substances related to the use of chemical weapons were identified.
As he explained, the Department collects dust samples from the atmosphere and sends them for analysis to the Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, which examines about 40 different chemicals that are known to come from the use of chemical weapons.
According to the competent official, even if there is a possible presence of such substances, it is at levels below the detection limit of the instruments, which means that any infinitesimal concentration in the dust does not affect the atmosphere.
Mr. Savvidis said that the reason is "simple and scientifically documented", as these chemicals have a very short life time in the atmosphere and it is not possible to travel such long distances. He added that this is even more true in the case of Iran, which is located at a greater distance from Cyprus than Syria and Israel.
As he said, in order for there to be a possibility of affecting Cyprus, two conditions must be met at the same time: hostilities must be underway near deserted areas and there must be a dust incident moving from that area to Cyprus.
Referring to the situation today, the Head of the Air Quality Branch said that there is currently no dust in the atmosphere, while noting that no effect from such an episode has been recorded in recent days either.
He also explained that dust episodes are monitored by the Department of Meteorology as a meteorological phenomenon, through special models, with the Department of Labour Inspection being in close cooperation with the Meteorological Service.
At the same time, he stated that the Department, as the competent authority for air quality, records measurements of air pollutants at ground level, i.e. at the height where humans breathe, with stations placed about one and a half to two meters from the ground, with the aim of protecting human health.
In relation to a possible dust incident at the end of last week, Mr. Savvides said that it did not affect Cyprus, adding that the rains worked positively, as they "wash away" the atmosphere, without any relevant pollutant being recorded in the measuring instruments.
