Nicosia: Vulnerable groups of the population are being advised to remain indoors and take precautionary measures due to high concentrations of dust observed in the air, as announced by the Department of Labor Inspection. The warning comes amid concerns for the health of children and the elderly, who are particularly urged to avoid outdoor activities because the small size of respirable particles in the dust can negatively impact human health.
According to Cyprus News Agency, employers are required to implement appropriate measures in accordance with a decree on safety and health at work, which mandates assessing risks that employees might face when working in open environments. It is recommended that workers in such settings use suitable personal protective equipment to mitigate exposure.
Detailed observations reveal the latest hourly dust concentrations measured at 07:00 am in multiple regions. Nicosia recorded 1167.7 µg/m3, Limassol 161.8 µg/m3, Larnaca 481.3 µg/m3, Paralimni 326.4 µg/m3, Paphos 793.8 µg/m3, Zygi 191.8 µg/m3, and Ayia Marina Xyliatou 2047.0 µg/m3. Authorities clarified that the dust consists of respirable particulate matter with a diameter smaller than 10 µm (PM10). Current legislation stipulates that the daily average concentrations should not exceed 50 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter).