By Christopher Crowson
Air pollution levels have exceeded the World Health Organisation’s recommended limits in Yerevan everyday this year so far. On average, just by breathing in the city’s air, Yerevan’s inhabitants are smoking what calculates to one and half cigarettes per day.
In an effort to raise awareness about air pollution in the city, the initiative Yerevan for People set up the Yerevan Air Public Talk at Ground Zero Café last week.
During the discussion, physicians, environmental activists as well as representatives from the City Hall and the Ministry of Environment gave presentations. Attendees were encouraged to ask questions and participate in a much-needed conversation about Yerevan’s so-called “silent killer.”
Yekaterina Kushnaryova, a cardiologist and a therapist from the Chaika Armenia Medical Centre, explained that the dangers of air pollution lie in the inhalation of PM 2.5 particles.
Kushnareva said that PM 2.5 is an umbrella term for all particles found in the air that possess a diameter of 2.5 microns or less. For reference, a strand of human hair has a relatively larger diameter, measuring between 50 and 70 microns.
These particles, which can contain dangerous substances like toxic metals and asbestos, mostly come from outdoor sources like exhaust fumes and construction dust.
Aleksandra Belogurova, an oncologist also from Chaika Armenia, stated that in 2013 the World Health Organization determined that PM 2.5 particles were “a definite cause of lung cancer and that in a number of cases there is data demonstrating that they can also provoke oncological diseases in other organs and systems.”
Doctor Levon Badalyan, head of the oncology service and the chemotherapy department at the Nairi Medical Centre confirmed the link between the inhalation of PM 2.5 particles and the development of oncological diseases. He told the audience that he has personally witnessed many cases in which non-smokers have developed lung cancer. He named air pollution as one of the principal reasons for the manifestation of the disease.
To protect oneself, the experts suggested wearing masks, especially of the FFP2 and FFP3 variety and especially on days in which high levels of smog are detected. They also recommend the use of air filters at home and in cars, and a more frequent ventilation of one’s living and working spaces.
Yerevan initiatives work to combat air pollution
The group which organised the event, Yerevan for People, was formed half a year ago, initially to resolve issues related to pedestrians and transportation in urban areas.
Viktor Tsatryan, a founder of Yerevan for People, told the audience that “in November and December last year, not only could many of us feel the effects of the air with our lungs, but we could also see it with our eyes and feel it with our hands.” It was at this point that some of the group’s activists decided to begin their fight against air pollution.
Kristina Loginova, founder of another project called ArmAQI.org, presented her initiative to increase levels of air quality monitoring in Yerevan and to make this available to the average citizen. ArmAQI.org offers Yerevan’s inhabitants the opportunity to buy small sensors at a reasonable price, ready-made or in a DIY-kit form, and install them outside their apartment’s windows to measure levels of surrounding air pollution.
She made the audience aware that if they cannot afford the sensor, they may receive further discounts.
Eric Saryan then introduced a project launched by TUMO Labs called ClimateNet. The initiative, which has been operating now for a year and half, has overseen the installation of over 30 sensors around Armenia “which not only monitor the cleanliness of the air, but also UV radiation, light levels, temperature etc…”
Similar to the ArmAQI.org sensors, Saryan let the audience know that anyone who desires can order the sensor in parts, construct it and connect it to TUMO Lab’s monitoring system. Ordering the sensor is completely free, and Saryan noted that TUMO Labs will provide clients with an unlimited amount of data storage for their sensors.
In an effort to merge all the data that has been made available by such sensors, Anton Vlasov has founded an initiative called Armenia Blackouts. This project not only uses data produced from the abovementioned initiatives but also from others such as Frankyants.org, IQAIR and sensors installed by the Yerevan City Hall.
Armenia Blackouts “puts all the information taken from these isolated sources into one place and makes it simple to analyse what is happening with the air in Yerevan,” said Vlasov.
Another initiative engaged in the fight against air pollution who presented at the Yerevan Air Public Talk was Kanach Yerevan, comprised of activists and concerned citizens who, in the words of co-founder Kira Balayan, “want Yerevan to be a truly green city.”
Balayan told the audience that the initiative’s operations had a three-pronged approach to achieve their aims: educational campaigns, community building efforts and the documentation of Yerevan’s trees on an interactive online map.
The latter is done through a web application, which is available here and shows almost 5000 trees in Yerevan.
Response from the government
Gorik Avetisyan, Deputy Director of Yerevan City Hall’s Environmental Department, suggested that air pollution readings may be overstated, as many sensors are installed on construction sites, placing them at the epicenter of pollution zones.
He downplayed the severity of the situation, calling some sensors “unprofessional” and prone to errors. He also claimed that the highest air pollution levels were recorded in 2016, not in the past year.
Avetisyan additionally mentioned the four-year plan which Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan commissioned in December of last year to combat air pollution in the city. The following are the plan’s main points:
- Auto repair shops will be required to follow increased regulations;
- Construction sites will be required to deploy special equipment which is able to reduce the release of dust into the atmosphere;
- Heavier fines will be imposed upon construction site managers who do not comply with the new regulations;
- More green spaces and bodies of water will be created in the city.
All information regarding the four-year plan will soon be on the City Hall’s website, according to Avetisyan.
Following the discussion, CivilNet spoke with Gregory, a co-founder of Kanach Yerevan. He stated that, “the public talk was constructive in vocalizing an important issue. It is great that some of the invited government representatives found time to attend…showing their openness to constructive dialogue.”
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