What Are We Breathing in Yerevan and How to Reduce Air Pollution? Discussion at Ecolur Press Club

What Are We Breathing in Yerevan and How to Reduce Air Pollution? Discussion at Ecolur Press Club
  • In the winter of 2024, the average daily maximum exceedance of dust MPC was 3.4 times, which, according to the acting standards in Armenia, is considered unfavorable but not dangerous.
  • "Hydrometeorological and Monitoring Center" SNCO of RA Environment Ministry does not measure the most dangerous PM2.5 particles for human health.
  • Health Ministry cannot assess the impact of dust on health, as the World Health Organization has proposed PM2.5 and PM10 as the basis for assessment, and the authorized body does not conduct PM2.5 measurements.
  • A four-year plan for reducing air pollution is being developed.

These are the main questions that were raised during the round table dedicated to the issue of air pollution in Yerevan. It took place on January 14, 2025, at EcoLur Press Club as part of "Civil Society Becomes Active Participant in Yerevan Greening" project, implemented by EcoLur Informational NGO in partnership with Yerevan Municipality with the support of "People Powered - Global Hub for Participatory Democracy."

The round table was attended by Acting Head of Environmental Protection Department of Yerevan Municipality Sirarpi Haykazyan and Deputy Head Gorik Avetisyan, the representative of “CEE Bankwatch Network” International Organization Arthur Grigoryan, Gohar Hakobyan, Head of  Air Quality Monitoring Service at RA Environment Ministry “Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center”, Hermine Poghosyan - Expert of the Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture and Environmental Protection of RA National Assembly, Arayik Papoyan - Physician-hygienist of Department of Environmental Hygiene of National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Health Ministry, Aren Manukyan - Program Manager of Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center and Program Assistant Mary Minasyan, Aarhus National Coordinator of the Convention Marie Chakryan, Coordinator of Aarhus Center in Yerevan Silva Ayvazyan, President of “Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment” NGO Elena Manvelyan, journalist of “Nouvelles d'Arménie” news agency Olivier Merlet, Public Radio journalist Nune Avetisyan, and the EcoLur team.

Acting Head of Environmental Protection Department of Yerevan Municipality Sirarpi Haykazyan presented the state of atmospheric air pollution in Yerevan, its causes and measures aimed at solving the problem.

“In the winter months, air pollution increases in Ararat Valley and Yerevan. In the low-lying zone, air stagnation occurs and an inversion layer, the so-called “crust”, forms, which hinders the movement of air, the removal of air pollution, and it accumulates and persists in the atmosphere for a long time. The inversion layer was maintained for more than 90 days, in Yerevan the average daily dust MPC was exceeded 10-12 times. This winter, the maximum excess of the average daily dust MPC in Yerevan was observed on December 5-6, 2024, 3.4 times, which is considered unfavorable according to the current regulations in Armenia,” Sirarpi Haykazyan noted.

In winter, the burning of various types of fuel for heating purposes is added to the main sources of pollution.

Mainly, two different types of dust are distinguished by their diameters: PM2.5 and PM10. PM2.5 is considered the most dangerous to human health due to its ability to penetrate directly into the bloodstream. PM10 can contain benzo[a]pyrene, furan, dioxins, heavy metals, and is considered a carcinogenic pollutant. Gohar Hakobyan, Head of  Air Quality Monitoring Service at RA Environment Ministry “Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center”, noted: "The dust we measured is unclassified in composition; they are PM10 and larger particles, while the municipality is currently measuring using a sensor method with sensor equipment. Their observation points are in hot spots, while ours is background, meaning it represents the overall city."

Yerevan Municipality has installed 152 devices at construction sites. They are able to separate PM2.5 and PM10 particles, but they are not calibrated with the static station of “Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center” SNCO. “The SNCO is unable to provide an official reference for our stations. At the same time, these devices are not designed to assess general air pollution, but point-by-point, because they are installed at air pollution targets,” Sirarpi Haykazyan said.

Arayik Papoyan - Physician-hygienist of Department of Environmental Hygiene of National Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Health Ministry, mentioned that

that accurate assessments from their center require very reliable air data. "The World Health Organization recommends PM2.5, PM10 particle measurements as a basis for assessment. Today we do not have those measurements in Armenia. The municipality is doing it, but theirs is not a reference, we cannot take it. Environment Ministry is not doing it. We all know that air leads to the onset of non-communicable diseases such as stroke and heart attacks. In this context, we must understand that this is not just an air-related issue; it comes from our behavior—smoking, drinking, unhealthy food, unhealthy lifestyle. In other words, to evaluate all this, we need to have a clear picture and clear, reliable numbers of pollutants," he said. According to Sirarpi Haykazyan, based on studies conducted in 2024, unclassified dust MPC exceedance was observed in 28% of observations, nitrogen dioxide MPC exceedance in 4%, and 1% sulfur dioxide MPC exceedance of the respective permissible concentration limits. Compared to 2022-2023, a decrease in dust concentration was observed in the capital during the summer months of 2024.

In order to modernize the atmospheric air quality monitoring system in Armenia and align it with international standards, according to a representative of Yerevan Municipality, Environment Ministry was allocated 300 million AMD in 2024 for the acquisition of 2 air quality monitoring stations, the supply and commissioning of which is expected in the first quarter of 2025. The operation of the monitoring stations will enable the measurement of the main air pollutants, receive information in real-time, and present it to the public promptly. The stations will be installed in the Arabkir and Kentron administrative districts. Additionally, with the funding from the Japanese government, the air quality monitoring network in Yerevan will be supplemented with 3 more automatic monitoring stations in 2025. The main sources of air pollution in the capital are construction, transportation, open mines, and Nubarashen landfill site. As a measure to reduce air pollution, Sirarpi Haykazyan highlighted the continuous renewal of public transport vehicles.

One way to reduce air pollution is to increase green spaces. According to Sirarpi Haykazyan, during 2022-2024, green spaces in the city of Yerevan increased by about 50 hectares.

Sirarpi Haykazyan noted that construction of a community park “Dalma Park” is planned on 230 hectares in the territory of Dalma. “After this, the green space per capita in the city of Yerevan will be 10.3 sq m, which will exceed the minimum 9 sq m indicated by the World Health Organization (WHO),” she said.

Based on Yerevan Mayor’s assignment, a four-year plan for reducing air pollution is being developed, which will present the necessary measures with clear indicators of emission reduction, green spaces, water spaces.

"The action plan for reducing air pollution will include measures to reduce emissions from transport, construction, and mining, especially during the winter months, as well as indicators for increasing green spaces and water areas will be enshrined as important tools in the fight against pollution. International partners (Asian Development Bank, UNDP, Belgian Embassy, etc.) are supporting Yerevan Municipality in the development of the plan. The plan will be discussed and coordinated with the relevant authorities in the sector," Sirarpi Haykazyan outlined. Addressing the issues of Nubarashen landfill site, she noted, "Nubarashen is not a sanitary landfill site, it does not meet any standards. Its closure is unequivocal."

At the moment, there is a decision to set up a garbage disposal plant within the framework of private-community cooperation, in the context of which it will accommodate the closure of Nubarashen landfill site. The process is difficult and responsible, we have decided to involve international partners who will help us to get technical tasks of two competitions to choose the best one. We will announce a two-stage competition in the spring and will have more tangible information about the landfill before the end of the year,” Sirarpi Haykazyan noted.

Gohar Hakobyan, Head of Air Quality Monitoring Service of “Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center” SNCO of RA Environment Ministry, stated: “Many substances are emitted from the burning of the landfill, including not only the main pollutants defined by the who. We know that monitoring is the basis for environmental policy making, forecasting, and decision-making, but we need huge financial resources to measure it all,” she said.

Arthur Grigoryan, the representative of CEE Bankwatch Network international organization, inquired whether Health Ministry is monitoring public health. “Are there any studies, static data on the extent to which environmental pollution as a result of economic activity affects people's health?” he asked. Arayik Papoyan responded: “It's probably about doing research in areas adjacent to mining or having a methodological guide. We have that document, but to implement it, we need reliable data about the environmental air, soil, water, emission limits. With the WHO we have developed a methodological guide to the areas adjacent to mining, with our orders always published on the official website, but there is no country in the world, an organization that can say what this issue was specific to this area from the air. It can say that risk, while causing disease, is to have reliable data on the air, water, soil, as well as to understand that people in this area smoke, do not drink, how physical activity is, a long-term study should be done,” he said.

February 05, 2025 at 13:04