Airborne particle radioactivity during desert dust days in Cyprus

Mediterranean countries are often affected by desert dust storms, which have significant effects on the environment and public health. We compared airborne particle radioactivity levels during desert dust and non-dust days in Cyprus. Gross α- and β-radioactivity from Total Suspended Particle (TSP) samples, collected at two urban routine monitoring stations in Limassol and Nicosia, were available for the period 2017-2020 and 2008-2020, respectively. Radionuclides ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K, from TSP samples, were also available from a semi-industrial monitoring station in Nicosia during 2008-2020. Information on desert dust presence, dust origin, particulate matter (PM) levels, and solar activity (KP index and solar sunspot numbers - SSN) were also obtained. We used linear regression models adjusting for seasonality and long-term trends, and solar activity to assess the effect of dust storms on TSP gross α- and β-, and ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K radioactivity levels. Gross α- and β-radioactivity, and ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K radioactivity levels were significantly higher on days with desert dust compared to days characterized with no influence of desert dust. Levels of gross α- and β-radioactivity during dust days were higher when dust originated from the Middle East deserts than from the Sahara Desert. The same trend was observed for the ratios ¹³⁷Cs to ⁴⁰K and ¹³⁷Cs to PM₁₀. Conversely, ratios of TSP gross α- and β-radioactivity to PM₁₀ were significantly lower during desert dust days in comparison to days without dust influence. This study suggests that desert dust increase both TSP gross α- and β-radioactivity, as well as ¹³⁷Cs and ⁴⁰K radioactivity levels. Further studies should clarify the contribution of anthropogenic and other natural sources to the emission or transportation of particles radioactivity, to better mitigate future exposures.