High dust concentrations are observed in the atmosphere today, Monday, according to measurements from the ground stations of the Air Quality Monitoring Network of the Department of Labor Inspection.
According to the Department of Labor Inspection, because the dust contains small inhalable particles, which may have a negative impact on human health, the public, and especially vulnerable population groups (children, the elderly and the sick), are urged to avoid moving around in open spaces until the phenomenon has passed.
Employers, based on the provisions of the Safety and Health at Work (Code of Practice for the Protection of Persons at Work During Dust Episodes) Decree of 2022 (K.D.P. 410/2022), must take appropriate measures (organizational or technical), after assessing the risks for their employees who are in open spaces and the workers in such spaces are recommended to use appropriate means of personal protection.
For information, the latest hourly dust concentration values measured at 10:00 a.m. in the following areas were: Nicosia: 40,1 μg/m3, Limassol: 133,0 μg/m3, Larnaca: 65,1 μg/m3, Paralimni: 83,8 μg/m3, Paphos: 191,0 μg/m3, Zygi: 42,7 μg/m3, Agia Marina Xyliatou: 53,5 μg/m3.
According to the Department of Labor Inspection, "dust" means inhalable suspended particles in the atmosphere with a diameter of less than 10 μm (PM10). According to the relevant legislation, the limit value refers to the average daily value and must not exceed the value of 50 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter).
More information and continuous, immediate information on the results of hourly measurements can be found on the website www.airquality.gov.cy and in the application "Air Quality Cyprus", which can be installed for free on a mobile phone.
