Air quality can be affected even in areas far from a fire, depending mainly on wind speed and direction, Chrysanthos Savvidis, Senior Labor Inspector and Head of the Air Quality and Support Division, told CNA on Wednesday. In serious incidents, he added, no prior measurement is required before taking measures to protect the public.
As he noted, a fire “by definition alters air quality,” as it releases substances into the atmosphere that are not associated with clean air.
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He explained that the extent to which the atmosphere is affected and the distance over which this occurs depends largely on meteorological conditions. If wind speeds are high, he said, pollutants can be carried quite far, and as they move away, they become diluted and their concentration decreases.
Regarding the pollutants released, Mr. Savvidis noted that how dangerous they are depends on their concentration, while their type is determined by the material being burned.
“That is why our recommendation is that, when such an incident occurs, people should move away from the source and let the relevant authorities do their job,” he said.
He identified children, the elderly, and patients—particularly those with respiratory or other health problems—as the most vulnerable to air pollution.
Nine permanent air quality monitoring stations; emergency monitoring only upon request
When asked about air quality monitoring in Cyprus, Mr. Savvides stated that there are nine permanent monitoring stations in operation, a number greater than that required under the European Directive.
He clarified that the stations are intended for the systematic monitoring of air quality under normal conditions and not to cover every emergency, as it is practically impossible to have monitoring stations at every location.
In some cases, he said, variations in the readings from fixed stations may be observed during wildfires, depending on meteorological conditions.
For emergency measurements, he noted that a request is usually submitted by a competent authority, such as the Fire Department, Civil Defense, or a local authority. As an example, he cited a previous fire at a factory in Dali, where a mobile monitoring station had been deployed to track the spread of pollution.
In serious incidents, he emphasized, the competent authorities can immediately evacuate the public without first waiting for measurements, as it is a given that smoke degrades air quality.
The measurements are particularly useful afterward, he added, to determine whether pollutants remain in the atmosphere, how concentrations are decreasing, and when the atmosphere can be considered to have cleared.
Mr. Savvidis also noted that, under certain conditions, pollutants can be carried by rain into ecosystems, agricultural crops, rivers, springs, or reservoirs and may eventually enter the food chain.
For this reason, he said, a serious incident must be examined comprehensively and, where necessary, the quality of water and agricultural products must be tested.
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WHERE: Smoke from wildfires poses a serious health risk
Furthermore, the World Health Organization warns that smoke from wildfires can travel thousands of kilometers, affecting air quality and human health even far from the fire zone.
In an informational bulletin published on July 31, the WHO states that approximately 90% of the total mass of particles emitted by wildfires consists of particles with a diameter of up to 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5), while smoke may also contain PM10, ultrafine particles, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and toxic metals.
Exposure to smoke can cause, among other things, headaches, eye and respiratory irritation, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest pain; children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with chronic lung or heart conditions are considered particularly vulnerable.
When there is heavy smoke or high levels of air pollution, the WHO recommends limiting outdoor activities and, whenever possible, staying indoors with windows and doors closed. If you must go outdoors, it is recommended that you wear a properly fitted FFP2 or N95 mask.
SOURCE: KYPE
