Nicosia: High concentrations of dust are observed in the air on Friday, according to measurements from ground stations of the Air Quality Monitoring Network 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, a relevant announcement says.
According to Cyprus News Agency, employers must take appropriate measures, based on an order, after assessing any risks that their employees may face while working in open spaces. It is recommended that workers in such spaces use appropriate means of personal protection.
In detail, the latest hourly dust concentrations measured at 10:00 am local time were in Nicosia 87.0 µg/m3, Limassol 106.1 µg/m3, Larnaca 65.8 µg/m3, Paralimni 53.7 µg/m3, Paphos 445.4 µg/m3, Zygi 94.6 µg/m3, Ayia Marina Xyliatou 494.9 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).