Gyumri's Air Pollution Off the Scales!

I can relate to this article, having lived through the early 1990s in Armenia. Nearly everyone was burning a wood or a kerosene stove, both of which would foul up the air. Ever had soot in your nose? I have!

Air pollution index in Armenia's second largest town of Gyumri in winter months is eight times higher of the permitted level.

Rolan Gasparian, head of the local environmental monitoring laboratory, said homeless families in the town still leaving in temporary homes use wood stoves to warm their houses and since woods are too expensive they burn whatever they find on streets, including plastic bottles and garbage that can burn.

He said the air in the town is relatively clean in daytime when these people are out of their homes. Unlike in winter in summer months the air pollution source are dust and construction debris.

That explains that, I suppose. It is unlikely the government will step in to do anything about this, which is unfortunate for the people living there, homeless or not.

Source: ArmenPress