Ecologic situation in Lori, Syunik dangerous to local population?

June 30, 2011 - 20:15 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - Scholars and environmentalists are raising an alarm signal about dangerous ecological situation in Lori and Syunik Regions. In this connection EcoLur issued a request to Health Minister Harutyun Kushkyan requesting him to address the situation.

The request particularly says, “the Director of the Center for Ecological Noosphere Studies of NAS RA Armen Saghatelyan publicly stated that the genofond of the nation is at stake: In Alaverdi, in the soil of Neghots and Qarkop Villages ultrahigh content of heavy metals have been detected in the grown vegetables and forest fruits, including toxic elements, such as mercury, cadmium and arsenic which are oncogene and pose great danger for the health of the population. The samples of the soil from Alaverdi contain copper, zinc and arsenic in higher concentrations that the maximum permissible concentration.

The same situation prevails is in Syunik Region. According to Armen Saghatelyan, there are no agricultural products in orchards - fruit, vegetables, greens which were not intoxicated with toxic elements such as cadmium, arsenic and mercury. Saghatelyan is sure there will be no healthy children born in Syunik after two generations.”

In conclusion, EcoLur requested the minister to inform them of measures Health Ministry takes to reveal the risks to the health of people inhabiting ecologically polluted zones in Lori and Syunik.