Recommendations and measures to protect the health of citizens due to the burden of quality of the atmosphere due to African dust includes a Ministry of Health circular released on Wednesday on “Protection of Public Health in the event of transport of African dust”.

The circular provides recommendations and general measures to protect the health of the population due to the impact on air quality.

In more detail and as mentioned in the circular, the transport of dust from the Sahara desert results in an increase in the concentration of suspended particles in the atmosphere. Depending on the estimation of the average daily (24-hour) concentration levels of the suspended particles, as announced by the competent Services (Ministry of the Environment, Environmental Services of the P.E.) and for concentrations greater than 50μg/m3 the recommendations and measures to protect the population are as follows:

24-hour AS concentration10 (mg/m3)

Recommendations for people at increased risk

Recommendations in the general population

51-75

Adults with respiratory problems, adult heart patients and children with respiratory problems should limit any vigorous physical exercise, especially if it is done outdoors.

None

76-100

People with respiratory problems or heart disease and children should limit any intense physical activity, especially if it is done outdoors.

· People with asthma may need more frequent inhalations of the relief medicine.

· People over 65 should limit their physical activity.

Anyone who experiences eye irritation or coughs, nasal congestion, or throat discomfort should limit physical activity, especially outdoors.

101-150

· People with respiratory problems

· heart patients

· children as well

· people over 65 should limit their physical exercise-activity and time spent outdoors.

· People with asthma may need more frequent inhalations of reliever medicine.

Each person should limit physical exercise especially if they feel eye discomfort or experience a cough, nasal congestion or throat discomfort

>150

· People with respiratory problems

· heart patients

· children as well

· people over 65 should avoid any physical exercise-activity outdoors.

It is also recommended to avoid staying outdoors, especially in areas with increased traffic.

· People with asthma may need more frequent inhalations of reliever medicine. If symptoms persist, it is recommended to contact the attending physician.

Every person is advised to avoid any physical exercise outdoors and to limit the time spent outdoors especially in areas with increased traffic.

24-hour AS concentration10 (mg/m3)

Measures to protect the population

>150

Suspension of operation of public or private nurseries, nurseries, kindergartens

stations, kindergartens and primary and secondary schools

It is clarified that for the proposed recommendations and population protection measures for the Region of Attica, the public can be informed from the website of the Ministry of Health, while for the rest of the Regions of the country, the responsibility for information belongs to the relevant Region Governor.

In addition, it is recommended to take the following precautionary measures for the population:

  • Staying indoors. In the event that residential areas are located within the zone of occurrence of the incident and are affected by the transport of dust, it is recommended to reduce unnecessary movements and stay in closed spaces without direct communication with the outside air (closing windows, doors and other air passages to the interior ).
  • As long as the residences have an air conditioning system, it is recommended to use it in the indoor air recirculation mode, in order to minimize the burden on the indoor air quality. The “fresh air” intake option provided by some air conditioning systems must be turned off during the episode to prevent the inflow of smoke from the outside environment. Also, proper maintenance of air conditioning system filters is necessary.
  • Reducing sources of indoor air pollution within the home. During an episode, indoor smoking, cooking using a grill, using a fireplace for baking/cooking/heating, using aerosols, and any other source that may affect indoor air quality should be avoided.

Information on forecasting the evolution of dust transport phenomena can be found on the EU Copernicus program page at the link below:

  • https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/charts/packages/cams_air_quality/

Finally, it is noted that the Ministry of Health is monitoring the evolution of the phenomenon and depending on the assessment of the average daily concentration levels of suspended particles, as sent by the competent Ministry of Environment and Energy, will immediately issue recommendations for the protection of the population, which will are published on the website of the Ministry.