ArmInfo.The head of the association "For the sake of stable human development", ecologist Karine Danielyan doubts the safety of the substance burnt in the territory of the chemical plant "Nairit". "It's hard to believe that there are no dangerous substances in the burning material," the ecologist said in an interview with ArmInfo.
According to Karine Danielyan, judging by the chemical composition at this stage, it is very difficult to unequivocally state that the burnt lacquer-ethanol in these volumes does not pose a danger both in terms of releasing chemical substances into the atmosphere and causing harm to the health of the population of Yerevan. "I think it's very important to establish control over the situation and try to react quickly," she said.
Earlier, the monitoring group of radiation, chemical and biological situations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia conducted a study at the site of the fire at the Nairit chemical plant and presented details about the burning substance. According to Colonel Valery Bagiyan, Head of Monitoring Department of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Situations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia, 50 tons of lacquer-ethanol or three of the four tanks located on the territory of the plant were burned at the Nairit plant. "The specified substance is difficult to extinguish with water, at present works are performed to cool the tanks, after which the combustion will be extinguished with foam," the expert said. A preliminary version of the cause of the fire at the plant is self-ignition of lacquer-ethanol, since this substance has the ability to spontaneous combustion at high temperatures, he noted.
The representative of the Ministry of Emergency Measures assured that there is no chemical danger due to the explosion at the chemical plant, as there are no harmful emissions to the atmosphere and threats to the health of the population. As for the information that the firemen working near the fire center were poisoned by smoke and they received first aid, then, as the colonel said, the firemen sensed only a small lack of oxygen and carbon monoxide emissions, but soon returned to service.
The Ministry of Health of Armenia is also confident that the substance burned in "Nairit" is not dangerous for health. "The substance burning in the territory of the Nairit plant does not pose a threat to the population," the Ministry of Health said. In this case, the agency refers to the data of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. At the same time, the Ministry of Health calls on residents of nearby plant areas to close windows and doors, and also to refrain from walking. The Ministry of Health with reference to the Armenian Hydrometeorological Service also reports that after 17.00, wind flows from the northeast to the southwest are predicted, which means that the smoke through the Arart Valley will go to Turkey.
Lac-ethanol is a pellicle-forming material, a solution of high polymers of acetylene in the xylene fraction, stabilized by wood-molyanyantioxide. Lac-ethanol is used both for the painting of building structures and for the protection of chemical equipment. It can be used for the production of anticorrosive coatings for metal, wood and concrete.
ArmInfo. The fire at the territory of the chemical plant Nairit is localized, there is no threat of spread of the flame, and the burning substance does not represent a danger, according to the press service of Ministry of Emergency Situations of Armenia.
ArmInfo.On August 28 at 13:10pm local time, Armenian Ministry of Emergency Situations received an alarm that a fire started at the territory of Nairit plant.