The Air Quality and Strategic Planning Section deals with the continuous monitoring of the concentration of various pollutants in the atmospheric environment as well as with the assessment and management of air quality, in order to secure the protection of the health and wellbeing of workers, citizens and the protection of the vegetation and the environment in general.
The Air Quality Monitoring Network in Cyprus was established in 2006 with the aim to protect and inform the public regarding the air quality in Cyprus and includes nine (9) stations. This network is operated according to the Cyprus and the European Legislation. The stations of the network are equipped with modern instruments based on the standards of the corresponding European networks.
For the better management of the network and the presentation of the air quality situation in Cyprus, these stations are categorized, based on the air quality legislation in relation to the measurement area as:
· Traffic Stations which are stations representative for areas with high traffic (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaka, Pafos and Paralimni),
· Residential Stations which are stations representative for residential areas (Nicosia),
· Industrial Stations which are stations representative for industrial areas (Zygi and Mari) and
· Background Stations which are stations representative for background areas (Ayia Marina Xyliatou).
Photo of the Background Station of Ayia Marina Xyliatou is shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1: Photo of Background Station of Ayia Marina Xyliatou
These monitoring stations have the ability to obtain measurements from different pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides (NO, NO2, NOx), ozone (O3), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10) and benzene (C6H6). Furthermore, the most important meteorological parameters are being monitored, such as: wind direction (W/D), wind speed (W/S), ambient temperature (T), relative humidity (R/H), barometric pressure (B/P) and solar radiation (S/R), by using automatic instruments for continuous measurements.
Public Information
The results of the measurements together with other relevant information are presented on-line on the website www.airquality.gov.cy. A sample of the home page of the above website is shown in Figure 2.
In addition, the public information regarding the air quality is carried out through indoor panels which are placed in three Municipalities Offices and through four island-wide TV stations after their evening central news bulletin.
DLI, in order to inform the public, has proceeded to the preparation of a mobile phone application with android and iOS software, for the immediate information of the employees, the sensitive population groups, the public, the relevant bodies, the visitors and other people interested about air quality. Through this application, the people can have access to the information regarding the air quality, based on the different colours of pollution levels on Cyprus map as well as based on the concentrations of pollutants per station. The above mentioned application can be downloaded here.
In addition, through the National Online Open Data Portal (https://www.data.gov.cy/) there is the possibility of access to current and historical air quality measurements.
Finally, for the information of the population, the Department publishes on an annual basis a detailed Technical Report on air quality in Cyprus, which can be found in the Publications – Air Quality field, as well as in the specialized website www.airquality.gov.cy, in the Reports field.
Dust Events
In Cyprus, there are frequent incidents of dust transfer from the arid and partially arid areas (deserts) of North Africa and Middle East. For this reason, in these cases announcements are issued to warn the public and specifically the sensitive groups (children, elderly and patients) and to protect people working in open spaces. The relevant announcements can be found here.
Suspended Particulate Matter (PM) Measurements
In addition, DLI carries out measurements of concentrations of PM using special filters with dedicated samplers in all towns of Cyprus. From these samplings, which are carried out according to the gravimetric reference method, firstly the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 are calculated and then the concentrations of heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are determined.
Evaluation of the results of measurements
The results of the measurements of the major atmospheric pollutants at the above mentioned areas show that the concentrations of most pollutants, like sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, benzene, as well as those of the heavy metals and benzo(a)pyrene are below the corresponding limit values set by the Cyprus and European Legislation.
Exception exists for Ozone (O3) and Particulate Matter with aerodynamic diameter less than 10μm (PM10), where exceedances of the corresponding limits are observed. In case of Ozone, the relevant exceedances are mostly due to the climatic conditions in Cyprus such as high ambient temperatures and high solar radiation, which contribute to the production of O3 as well as the transboundary pollution with the transportation of O3 and its precursors from the East Mediterranean and other neighboring countries.
Exceedances of limit value are also observed in the case of PM10, which are mainly due to anthropogenic and natural sources. Anthropogenic sources are emissions from vehicles, central heating and various industrial sources. Natural sources are airborne dust from the arid and partially arid areas (deserts) of North Africa and Middle East, re-suspension of dust from roads, agricultural areas and uncovered areas of cities during periods of drought, as well as sea salt.
The annual average values in all towns are higher than the annual limit value. However, no matter the exceedances, during the last three years there was a small reduction in the PM10 concentration. Also, the number of daily exceedances exceeds the maximum allowed number of exceedences of 35 per year. It is noted that, after the subtraction of the exceedences due to natural sources (sea salt, dust from desert) the final number of exceedences is below the 35 per year allowed.
In order to deal with the exceedences, specifically for PM10 but also to improve air quality concerning the other pollutants as well, the DLI prepared an Action Plan for the Air Quality Improvement, which was approved by the Council of Ministers in February 2008 and was submitted to the European Commission. In May 2018, the National Action Plan has been revised. The initial and the revised National Action Plan are posted on the website www.airquality.gov.cy under the link "Reports".
The progress of implementing the measures of the Action Plan is monitored by the DLI, as the Competent Authority, through a Technical Committee, which is prescribed in the relevant legislation. Representatives from five Ministries, as well as representatives from Local Authorities and other Bodies, participate in this Technical Committee.
Furthermore, a study is carried out in continuous basis for the determination of PM10 sources using chemical analyses, to specify the percentage of the contribution of the natural sources, with the aim to be able to implement realistic measures for the reduction of the anthropogenic sources.
Stockholm Convention for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs)
In 2001, the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants treaty was created to limit the emission of POPs and protect human health and the environment. Up to date, the treaty was signed by 152 countries and ratified by 179 countries. Cyprus ratified it on the 7th of March 2003 with the law 42(ΙΙΙ)/2004.
Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are toxic organic compounds which exhibit high environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, transboundary transportation through atmospheric circulation, and large-scale deposition, with potentially many consequences for the human health and the environment.
Based on the commitments derived from the ratification of the Convention for POPs (Law 42(ΙΙΙ)/2004) and specifically the Article 7, every country singed the Convention should have prepared two years after the accession in the Convention, a National Implementation Plan (NIP) for the implementation of the Convention’s provisions. The Council of Ministers accepted the NIP of Cyprus on the 29th August 2007.
The National Implementation Plan is posted on the above mentioned air quality webpage and can be found here.
Air Quality National Reference Laboratory (NRL)
The National Reference Laboratory (NRL), as well as the Air Quality Monitoring Stations Network, are accredited according to the Standard CYS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by the Cyprus Organisation for the Promotion of Quality (CYS-CYSAB). The accreditation of the NRL started on 6.6.2013 based on the standard CYS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and for its maintenance annual surveillances were followed by CYS-CYSAB, as well as reevaluation of the complete Quality Accreditation System of the NRL in June 2017. In December 2019, the NRL was evaluated with success based on the updated standard CYS EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and then in 2020 its surveillance was followed and its reevaluation in October 2021 was carried out. The Accreditation of the NRL was renewed until June 2025 and for its maintenance the NRL is monitored annually by CYS-CYSAB.
The accreditation is referred to the standard determination methods of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide, benzene and particulate matter.
The NRL participates in the compulsory Laboratory Intercomparison audits which take place at the Joint Research Center (Ispra-Italy) of European Union (EU) every three years, as prescribed in the relevant Directive of EU for the Air Quality. These audits concern all the measuring methods with the instruments of DLI for the atmospheric pollutants for which measurements are carried out.
The last participations of the NRL in the compulsory Laboratory Intercomparison audits were carried out in the period 4 – 7.6.2018 regarding the measurement methods of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide and ozon and the period 26 – 29.9.2022 regarding the measurement methods of organic compounds benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX).
Annual National Air Pollutant Emissions
The Air Quality and Strategic Planning Section of the DLI, acting as the National Focal Point for the 1979 Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution, is actively involved in the Convention's activities and its Protocols. Within this framework, the annual emissions of the air pollutants of Cyprus are calculated every year and are forwarded to the Executive Body of the Convention and to the European Environment Agency. These data have been included in the relative reports published by the Executive Body of the Convention and can be found here.