Cyprus-Forum.com

[MapleLeaf]

Recently I read an article that there is still leaded petrol in Cyprus and is supposed to be phased out by 2011. Since I'm not in the country yet, I'm wondering if this is true?

According to the Cyprus government's current status report on air quality, levels are mainly at low to moderate with high levels of pollution in the larger cities such as Limassol, Larnaca, and Nicosia.

Does anyone have sensitivities to certain pollutants or allergies to dust, and how have you coped in Cyprus? Have your symptons improved or worsened?

With all the constrution I've been reading about and little rain, I'd also like to know if anyone notices a lot of dust in Cyprus.

My son has these issues, so it would help to know what to expect.

Many thanks,

[cyprusgrump]

Dust…cough… yes… splutter…cough…

[Bill]

Hi maple leaf

quote
Recently I read an article that there is still leaded petrol in Cyprus and is supposed to be phased out by 2011. Since I'm not in the country yet, I'm wondering if this is true?

Haven't seen leaded petrol for sale in Cyprus for years.



According to the Cyprus government's current status report on air quality, levels are mainly at low to moderate with high levels of pollution in the larger cities such as Limassol, Larnaca, and Nicosia.

There are quite high levels in Nicosia and Limassol city centres compared to the rest of Cyprus ~ but certainly nowhere near the levels of pollution in London and other cities in the UK ~~ not much pollution as such in Larnaca ~~ I would say the level of pollution in Cyprus is pretty low but it depends of course what you are comparing it to.

With all the construction I've been reading about and little rain, I'd also like to know if anyone notices a lot of dust in Cyprus.

It's not only the prolific building that causes the dust but also the effect of a hot country with very little rain most of the year ~~ this makes Cyprus an extremely dusty place as there is not much growing in the ground for most of the year ~ soil turns into a fine powder and is blown everywhere.
Most Cypriots ( and some English ) defy the law and water down the outside area's usually twice a day which is totally illegal but sadly is necessary due to the dust problem ~ sweeping just moves the dust around and doesn't get rid of it.

"Notices a lot of dust" is a bit of an understatement really.

Does anyone have sensitivities to certain pollutants or allergies to dust, and how have you coped in Cyprus? Have your symptons improved or worsened?

Don't have any problems in this area but others I have spoken to ( in the larnaca area ) have noticed a improvement in allergies since moving to Cyprus.

Hope this help you a little

Bill

[Crivens]

I have lived in the middle of Limassol for the last year. Before that I lived right next to a forest around the corner from Ascot. I used to have asthma and allergies (note my asthma is set off by allergies, not dust and smoke) to a moderate level. Since coming to Cyprus I have probably sneezed a handful of times (mainly due to coldness of A/C) and have had no asthma. That will do thanks.

Saying that, I used to live right next to the sea in Uni (Aberystwyth) and was almost 100% there too.

Oh, and that Exczema (sp?) that flared up for the last few years in the UK (that private health care could do pretty much nothing about) has gone within 6 months too. Nice. Only downside is I naturally don't drink that much, and dehydration has caused a little dry skin on my right hand and a couple of those little pimple things you get with dehydration (first noticed in Dubai in 96, but was told to drink a hell of a lot more and it went away immediately). Must remember to drink more, even though I feel fine...

Cheers

[devil]

Leaded petrol was banned 2+ years ago. However, far worse, most diesel fuel is not desulfurised sufficiently and as most vehicles are diesel and many are worn out or badly regulated, there are vast emissions of stinking diesel smoke. 9 days/10, there is a pall of pollution over Nicosia, visible from any high ground around the city.

Yes, there is a lost of mineral dust, exacerbated each spring by the khamsin season, when we get layers of Saharan dust blown over from N. Africa. This is not allergenic, but can be an irritant. The most common allergens are pollens. Pine pollen is the commonest, as it is produced in enormous quantities and is wind-borne. However, it usually is not carried over great distances, as it is heavy. Olive pollen is more insidious but there is less of it but can be carried considerable distances; it is rarely allergenic, but it is known. Some people are sensitive to the terpenes and terpenoids found in citrus skins, especially d-limonene, but I don't think this is a true allergy, as they do not contain proteins.

Most dust inside houses results from skin desquamation.