Tuesday, August 29 2017 10:57

ArmInfo.Air pollution near the Yerevan plant "Nairit" does not pose an immediate threat to man. This is stated in a joint statement of the Ministry of Nature Protection and  the Ministry of Health of Armenia.

According to the official statement of the ministries, the relevant  units of the Ministry of Nature Protection on August 28 took samples  of atmospheric air on the territories adjacent to the plant during  the period 14:  30-15: 00. The analysis of atmospheric air samples by  an active method showed that the content of ground- level ozone and  nitrogen dioxide is in the range of maximum allowable concentrations  (MPC), sulfur dioxide exceeded the MPC by 1.6 times, total dust by  3.6 times. According to six passive samplers located near the  ignition site, the concentration of sulfur dioxide at five points  exceeded the maximum permissible concentration in 1.1-4.8 times, and  in all six locations the concentration of nitrogen dioxide exceeded  the MPC by 2.1-6.0 times. "In accordance with the decision of the  Government of Armenia of October 16, 2008 N1186, the level of air  pollution is considered dangerous, when the MAC for more than two  days exceeds the norm by 20-29 times, over eight hours - by 30-49  times, or less than two hours - 50 times or more.Thus, the recorded  concentrations are many times below the minimum dangerous threshold,  so the recorded excesses do not pose an immediate threat to the  person, "the statement says. 

The Ministry of Health, in turn, advises residents of the adjacent  areas where burning products (dust, unusual smell, smoke) are  observed, doors and windows of apartments are closed. "Children,  pregnant women and people suffering from respiratory diseases,  particularly asthma, bronchitis, heart failure, are most vulnerable  to these people." It is recommended that these people do not miss the  intake of medications, strictly follow the prescriptions of doctors,  and if the illness worsens, The statement stresses.At the same time,  as noted, monitoring continues. Information on the results of the  work will be periodically provided to the public. 

Note that, meanwhile, on the eve of the conversation with ArmInfo,  the head of the association "For the sake of stable human  development", ecologist Karine Danielyan expressed doubts about 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.  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 the specified volumes (50 tons according to the Ministry of  Emergency Situations) poses no danger both in terms of release of  chemicals into the atmosphere and in causing harm to health of the  population of Yerevan.