Hasmik Harutyunyan, the Azg
Researches conducted by the Center for Ecological Noosphere Studies of NAS RA in 2007 showed Kapan faces serious environmental problems.
According to Center Direcotor Armen Saghatelyan, food chains are main risk factors. Heavy metals have been absorbed into agricultural products. Mine waters have mixed with irrigation system used to irrigate land areas in Syunik, almost all the products in the region are poisoned.
Cucumbers, pumpkin, cabbage, pepper, apple, pear and a dozen of fruit and vegetables contain toxic elements such as cadmium, arsenic and mercury. Negative impact of heavy metals is not noticeable at once. Saghatelyan is sure there will be no healthy children in Syunik after two generations.
January 21, 2011