Fluctuations are observed in dust episodes in Cyprus based on data of the last 25 years regarding the quality of the air, Dr Chrysanthos Savvides, head of the Air Quality and Strategic Planning Section of the Labour Inspection Department, told CNA on Thursday. Asked by CNA if there has generally been an increase in dust episodes in recent years, Savvides said that records concerning the quality of the air, which includes dust in Cyprus date back only 25 years so one cannot accurately say that there is an increase or decrease. There have been fluctuations in these 25 years, he said, noting that 2018 'was the worst year in terms of dust episodes', while in 2015 Cyprus experienced the worst dust episode. As regards 2015, noting that the daily limit value is 50 micrograms per cubic meter for particulate matter of a diameter smaller than 10 µm (PM10), he said that concentrations of 8,000-10,000 µg/m3 were measured for a period of one and a half, two days. There are satellite photos in which Cyprus is not visible from the dust during that period, he said. Savvides noted, however, that they observe that the duration of dust episodes has increased but not their intensity, meaning that it lasts more days, but even that cannot be said with much certainty, referring to the small period records are being kept, which, as he said, is not enough to draw safe conclusions. According to data from the Labour Inspection Department, the highest daily concentration of PM10 at the Nicosia Station in 2006 was 1317.6 µg/m3, and was recorded on 25/2/2006 while the second highest, 1137.1 µg/m3, was recorded on 8/9/2015. Last year, the highest daily concentration of PM10 recorded at the Nicosia ground Station was 193.7 µg/m3, on April 4, while the limit value of PM10 concentration was exceeded 52 times. In 2021, 62 daily exceedances were recorded at the same Station, 73 in 2020, 69 in 2019, 90 in 2018, 71 in 2017, 76 in 2016 and 70 in 2015. Regarding the highest daily PM10 concentration per year at the Nicosia Station, 2020 recorded the lowest value - 87.6 µg/m3 - compared to other years for which data was provided, between 2005 and 2022. In 2021 the highest daily concentration of PM10 was 88.4 µg/m3, in 2019 it was 231.5 µg/m3, in 2018 it was 325.0 µg/m3, while in 2017 it was 569.7 µg/m3 which is the third highest between 2005 and 2022. In 2016 it was 109.9 µg/m3. According to Savvides, the two main factors of air pollution are human activity and natural ones. In Cyprus, he said, the first anthropogenic factor was cars, especially in city centers, noting that the more cars the more pollution, followed by central heating and fireplaces, with industry coming third. He noted that in each country these factors were different depending on the activities involved. Natural factors are dust from desert areas, volcanoes, and sea salt, he added. He said that Cyprus, as an island, is affected from sea salt and, due to its geographical location, dust storms from three major desert regions in North Africa, the Middle East and the Syrian desert. Regarding the possibility of an increase in dust storms, Savvides mentioned that according to scientists, climate change favours dust storms, but this is an estimate and something that will be determined over time.

Source: Cyprus News Agency