The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is located in the Eastern Mediterranean at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and Africa. This position makes the region particularly vulnerable to air quality issues. Studies show that Cyprus is heavily affected by transboundary pollution: emissions transported from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, as well as natural dust sources from North Africa, regularly lead to high levels of pollution. The limit values for ozone and aerosols are frequently exceeded. The region is considered a hotspot for air pollution, where local emissions, wildfires, and dust resuspension—meaning the re-entrainment of deposited dust into the air by wind or traffic—further aggravate the situation. For the population, this results in significant impacts on health and quality of life.

An EU Project for Cleaner Air

To address these challenges, the European Union supported a project under its Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community to modernize the air quality monitoring network. The goal was to strengthen the implementation of EU legal frameworks and air quality standards in order to improve public health, protect biodiversity, and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change. The project was led by the Environmental Protection Department of the TRNC, with support from the European Union Aid Programme. The implementation was carried out in cooperation with ENVItech Bohemia s.r.o, regional partner of Palas GmbH.

In the first project phase from 2020 to 2021, ten EN 16450-certified devices of the Fidas® System were installed. These high-precision systems provide continuous real-time measurements of particle size distributions and fine particulate matter concentrations, even under extreme conditions such as Saharan dust episodes, which regularly last for several days and drive PM10 levels far above the limits. The data are collected in a central management center in Nicosia, analyzed there, and made accessible to both authorities and the public.

The new monitoring results clearly demonstrated the strong influence of local sources. Construction sites in particular turned out to be significant contributors to particulate matter pollution. As a result, practical measures were introduced, such as enclosing construction sites, regular street cleaning and watering, and covering potential dust sources. At the same time, public access to information was greatly improved. Through online portals and, in the future, large digital information panels in urban areas, citizens can now access air quality data in real time and receive timely warnings when pollution levels are high.

Beyond Particulate Matter

Another focus of the project was the expansion of monitoring to include additional pollutants. With the support of EU experts, workshops and training sessions on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were conducted, which are particularly relevant during the storage and distribution of fuels. Local authorities received training on standard operating procedures (SOPs) for measurements and analyses and developed new regulations to better control VOC emissions at gas stations and terminals. In addition, a reference laboratory was established, equipped with state-of-the-art instruments to measure heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in ambient air and to validate particulate matter measurements against EU reference methods. This considerably strengthened the scientific foundation of the monitoring network.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Some difficulties also arose during network operation. Several stations experienced frequent power outages, which interrupted data collection and reduced the representativeness of the results. In addition, some instruments showed signs of wear after a few years. These issues are to be addressed in the second project phase starting in 2025. Plans include replacing older equipment, securing reliable power supply, and installing large public displays to make real-time values visible to all citizens. Furthermore, the network is expected to be more closely integrated into European systems such as the Chemical Weather Forecasting Network, enabling not only real-time measurements but also near-real-time forecasts of particulate matter and ozone concentrations.

A Major Step Toward Cleaner Air

With the project of 2020–2021, the TRNC has taken its air quality monitoring to a new level. Palas contributed with advanced real-time measurement technology that forms an essential part of this development. Together with targeted measures to reduce local emissions, capacity-building training, and the establishment of a reference laboratory, this has created a solid foundation for effective public health protection and a gradual alignment with European air quality standards. Building on this foundation, further steps are planned from 2025 onward as part of a second phase of network modernization, in which Palas technology again plays a role. These activities continue to strengthen the monitoring infrastructure, provide new opportunities for scientific cooperation, and increase transparency for the public. The project demonstrates how modern measurement technology, scientific validation, and European cooperation can come together to sustainably improve air quality in a region under particular environmental stress.

Literature

• https://emme-care.cyi.ac.cy/prevailing-dust-over-cyprus/
• https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/eu-budget/performance-and-reporting/programme-performance-statements/turkish-cypriot-community-performance_en
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/280303159_Quality_of_life_information_services_towards_a_sustainable_society_for_the_atmospheric_environment