Clarification on Air Pollution Indicators

Dear citizens,

In Yerevan, every winter months, due to adverse meteorological conditions (atmospheric conditions that contribute to the accumulation of harmful substances in the atmosphere's surface layer), an increase in dust content in the air is observed. This was reported by the Yerevan Municipality.

“This is also indicated by the air quality monitoring devices installed by the Yerevan Municipality since 2022. During this period, major sources of atmospheric pollution (construction, transport, open-pit mining) are compounded by the burning of various types of fuels for heating purposes, which leads to an increase in organic dust and smoke in the air. Especially in areas predominantly consisting of private houses, this significantly raises the level of air pollution because, in addition to natural gas, wood, various items, and waste are also burned,” the statement noted.

We urge citizens to refrain from burning production, consumption, or waste generated from leaf-fall in the natural environment or in settlements or its vicinity, or in other places or stoves not intended for burning, as this leads to the application of measures of accountability under Article 85.1 of the RA Law on Administrative Offenses.

Yerevan is located in a basin, and the main factor ensuring the city's ventilation is the mountain valley winds that blow every evening from the Geghama mountains into the Ararat basin, bringing fresh air to the city and dispersing the accumulated air in the basin. However, these winds cease at the end of October and do not blow until March, disrupting the ventilation of Yerevan and establishing thermal inversion in the Ararat basin. Cold air accumulates in low-lying areas and remains for a long time. Accordingly, dust particles compress and accumulate in the lower layers of the atmosphere, raising the pollution level, forming a background of high pollution in the surface layer of the atmosphere.

Considering these circumstances and the background high pollution of atmospheric air formed in the capital, the Yerevan Municipality is discussing the possibility of additional preventive measures during the winter months with authorized state bodies in the field of atmospheric air protection, aiming to reduce the level of pollution,” the statement concludes.