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INGA ZARAFYAN: ARMENIA RANKS MINING INDUSTRY REVENUES ABOVE HUMAN HEALTH
by Karina Manukyan
Friday, March 21, 12:54
Armenia ranks mining industry revenues above human health, Head of
EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan told ArmInfo.
She said that Armenia's regions face a disastrous situation due
to the tailing dumps and open-cut mining. The matter concerns the
contamination of soil, water and agricultural products. According
to various surveys, in the "mining" towns such as Kapan and Kajaran
the contamination with toxic metals exceeds the limit by 100 and
more times.
Zarafyan stressed that the data related to the negative influence
of mining industry on the health of the adjacent communities'
residents are concealed from the wide public. In this matter the
environmentalists can only rely on the information leakage from certain
mining enterprises, where the employees suffer from lung diseases,
particularly, silicosis.
The expert thinks that the mining industry is covered by the
authorities. She pointed out that the mining companies pay small fines
in case of accidents. The biggest amount a company may pay for the
serious damage inflicted to the environment is 400 thsd AMD. In the
meantime, the inflow of the tails into the rivers and gorges means
destruction of fertile soil and irrigation water sources.
"Unfortunately, Armenia ranks the mining industry revenues above the
human health", said Zarafyan.
To recall, in 2013 the American University of Armenia and the
Blacksmith Institute (USA) surveyed 19 communities of Armenia and
revealed soil contamination with heavy metals. The concentration of
chrome, cadmium, lead and arsenic in the soil, as well as on the
playgrounds of the schools and kindergartens exceeded the maximum
concentration limit due to the mining industry and tailing dumps.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=DD46A670-B0DE-11E3-A70A0EB7C0D21663
by Karina Manukyan
Friday, March 21, 12:54
Armenia ranks mining industry revenues above human health, Head of
EcoLur NGO Inga Zarafyan told ArmInfo.
She said that Armenia's regions face a disastrous situation due
to the tailing dumps and open-cut mining. The matter concerns the
contamination of soil, water and agricultural products. According
to various surveys, in the "mining" towns such as Kapan and Kajaran
the contamination with toxic metals exceeds the limit by 100 and
more times.
Zarafyan stressed that the data related to the negative influence
of mining industry on the health of the adjacent communities'
residents are concealed from the wide public. In this matter the
environmentalists can only rely on the information leakage from certain
mining enterprises, where the employees suffer from lung diseases,
particularly, silicosis.
The expert thinks that the mining industry is covered by the
authorities. She pointed out that the mining companies pay small fines
in case of accidents. The biggest amount a company may pay for the
serious damage inflicted to the environment is 400 thsd AMD. In the
meantime, the inflow of the tails into the rivers and gorges means
destruction of fertile soil and irrigation water sources.
"Unfortunately, Armenia ranks the mining industry revenues above the
human health", said Zarafyan.
To recall, in 2013 the American University of Armenia and the
Blacksmith Institute (USA) surveyed 19 communities of Armenia and
revealed soil contamination with heavy metals. The concentration of
chrome, cadmium, lead and arsenic in the soil, as well as on the
playgrounds of the schools and kindergartens exceeded the maximum
concentration limit due to the mining industry and tailing dumps.
http://www.arminfo.am/index.cfm?objectid=DD46A670-B0DE-11E3-A70A0EB7C0D21663