Gayane Sarmakeshyan, the Golos Armenii
More than half of Yerevan residents are exposed with heavy metals. Many-year-lasting studies have shown that one of the most important problems in our country and a serious risk factor is pollution with toxic metals.
The area of research conducted by Geochemistry Laboratory of the Center for Noosphere Studies of National Academy of Sciences is not limited only by Yerevan. In 2010 the assessment of agriculture product pollution with heavy metals launched in the frames of the OSCE CASE which are grown in Alaverdi and Akhtala Towns, as well as in adjacent villages.
The findings are as follows: not only the soil in this region, but also fruit, vegetables and greens in most cases are polluted with heavy metals, including that of first-class hazard. Tomatoes, greens, raspberry and fig are particularly vulnerable to negative exposure which you can find in Yerevan markets.
The situation in Kajaran is extremely alerting. Cattle are pasturing in the territories of the tailing dump and locals grow agriculture products. The situation in Kapan is worse where agriculture products grown up in extremely unfavorable conditions feed almost 60,000 people.
Pollution has a regular nature and this is a colossal threat for the population already at genetic level. Threat of heavy metal exposure on people’s health is considered by international scientific community as one of the most topical problems of reality compared with climate change consequences on our planet.
March 22, 2011