The air in Yerevan is polluted as a result of non-adherence to the norms set for trucks, carrying out works without sprinklers in construction sites that are increasing day by day, accumulating garbage, burning a large amount of fuel, and destroying green areas. Studies document that the level of air pollution in the capital exceeds the permissible limit. The dust content in Kentron administrative area was 1.8 times higher than the standard at the beginning of October.
In 2021, the permissible concentration of dust exceeded the permissible standard by 1.3 times. Gohar Hakobyan notes that they are able to conduct a study with the data of only 5 stations, but it is not enough to have a comprehensive picture. Victoria Burnazyan, Vice-president of "Ecolur" Informational NGO, assures that the increase in observation points will only make the numbers clearer, but today it is more important to find out what elements there are in the atmospheric air and how to clean the air from them as quickly as possible.
Victoria Burnazyan (Vice President of Ecolur Informational NGO), “Our monitoring center conducts research on several elements, but there are other studies that we document that mercury, arsenic, and heavy metals are found in the air, but they are not studied”.
Victoria Burnazyan says that the main cause of air pollution in Yerevan is mines and construction sites, and only then transport. And the best way to fight against it is to increase the green areas, according to the environmentalist, Yerevan has lost its green lungs.
Victoria Burnazyan, “We have lost Dalma gardensf, Nork forestsf, the forest layers of Haghtanak park, we are also losing the greenery in the yards. Of course, it is good that landscaping and tree planting are done, but they are not enough. Dust spreads from our construction sites. If the builders can water the squares during the day, after six o’clock the wind starts blowing and, as a result, there is a lot of dust in the air.”
According to Burnazyan, green zones should be established in the capital, because dirty air is not only an ecological problem, but also a health problem.
Author - Lilit Danielyan
October 31, 2022 at 13:16