EcoLur
The basin of the Debed River is not famous for the purity of its waters. Our clean mountain rivers are currently polluted with heavy metals and toxic compounds. Lori region residents use this water to irrigate their gardens and fields. The cattle drinks this water, which results in heavy metals getting into dairy products and vegetables grown in the fields and finally get into human organism. Under the data of the Environmental Impact Monitoring Center, Deved, Pambak, Dzoraget, Martsaget and Akhtaka Rivers are polluted with aluminum, vanadium, chrome, zinc, copper and iron. While the section of Akhtala River mouth is so polluted with manganese, copper and zinc that they exceed the maximum permissible concentration, 200.7, 247.6 and 395 times, respectively. The concentration of aluminum in this section of the river exceeds MPC by 14.7 times, while the concentration of one of the most toxic elements, cadmium, exceeds MPC by 7.4 times.
It should be noted that the main cause of the river pollution with heavy metals is mining industry. The representatives of mining industry in Lori Region are Akhtala Ore Processing Combine, Alaverdi Copper Smelting Plant, “Teghout” CJSC and “Sagamar” CJSC.
March 04, 2013 at 12:28