The results of the analysis of samples from the Shnogh and Teghut communities confirm the presence of heavy metals in the environment, 23 November 2021

The Czech Chemical Safety Organization "Arnika", together with organizations from Armenia - the NGO "Center for Community Mobilization and Support" and information NGO "EcoLur", continues to present the results of research from 2021 on the impact of mining and metallurgical industry on human health and the environment. This report presents the results of analyses of samples taken from the extended Shnogh community and the Teghut settlement at Mari March, affected by the Teghut Copper-Molybdenum Surface Mine and Sludge. The Teghut site is operated by the Teghut CJSC.

Samples were taken at sites where there was secondary chemical pollution resulting from leaks or the spread of pollution in water, sediments, private land, house dust, and finally biomaterials...collected from residents living in contaminated areas.

The content of heavy metals and toxic elements characteristic for the industrial waste of this deposit was determined in the samples.

Thus, in all the soil samples, the concentrations of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), and chromium (Cr) exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations according to Armenian standards and in the case of copper exceeded the Czech, Dutch, and French limits for heavy metal content in the soil...

The same toxic elements were found in urine samples taken from locals aged six to 85 years old. Analyses of control samples taken from residents of the Tavush region in ecologically uninhabited areas were also performed and the results from this region were mostly lower than the samples taken in the area of ​​interest. The highest content of arsenic and nickel was found in a 68-year-old woman living in Shnogh (78 μg/g creatinine and 45 μg/g creatinine)...