VIDEO: The Blue Sevan Contains Toxic Substances Along with Turning Green. What Are the Risks?

For several months now, experts have been raising alarms about the greenery of Lake Sevan. Yesterday, Karine Danielyan, head of the NGO ‘For Sustainable Human Development,’ urged the immediate creation of an interagency commission involving experts and NGOs, as reported by Armlur.am.

Danielyan pointed out that a similar commission operated from 2008 to 2012 and was beneficial for the lake. Additionally, the expert suggested discussing and determining how to address the existing algae. “We must collectively recognize that the lake is in a critical condition. In my deep conviction, God forbid, if we end up with a swamp instead of a lake, which is an indication of swampification, we are simply losing Armenia,” lamented K. Danielyan.

Meanwhile, Evelina Ghukasyan, director of the Institute of Hydroecology and Ichthyology at the National Academy of Sciences, insisted that the bloom of the lake is caused by three main factors. The first is the abundance of nutrients, as the sewage of entire cities flows into Lake Sevan through rivers.

“Second, the climatic factor: the whole world is talking about rising temperatures, and our studies show that the water temperature of the lake has never been as high as in the past two years. Naturally, this decisive factor became the cause of the lake's bloom. And of course, the fluctuations in the lake's level,” Ghukasyan explained.

Additionally, Lusine Hambaryan, head of the hydroecology department and phytoplankton specialist at the National Academy of Sciences, reported that samples taken by their team have undergone detailed molecular analysis, revealing that they contain accumulated toxins or poisonous substances, which, according to literature, are considered very stable compounds.

For more details, see the video.