Air quality in Cyprus

During this period of the year, the concentration of dust in the air might cause some issues, especially to vulnerable groups.

If lately you found yourself coughing and having breathing issues, unfortunately, you are not alone.

Due to the island’s geographic location, dust, mostly coming from Sahara desert, periodically covers Cyprus.

‘Dust’ refers to respirable particulate matter of a diameter smaller than 10 μm (PM10) in the air. By law, the limit not to be exceeded is set for the daily average concentrations at 50 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter) (source: Air Quality Cyprus).

This phenomena has been increasing over the previous years, due to climate change, desertification and soil depletion.

During May 2023, the Department of Labour Inspection issued warnings on 3 different days, during which the dust concentration was even 3 times the daily limit.

According to a yearly international assessment by IQAir a Swiss manufacturer of air purifiers, Cyprus is 65th out of 131 of the world’s most polluted countries & regions.

How to protect yourself

Breathing dusty Cypriot air is not the best thing you can do for your lungs.
It is possible to monitor the quality of the air on Air Quality Cyprus, which has also a mobile application.

Moreover, the government issues warnings in case of high concentration of dust in the air.

When pollution in the air is too high, vulnerable people are recommended to stay indoor, and wear a mask in case they go outside.

In case of employees working outdoors, employers must take the necessary precautions, and employees should utilize personal protection.