Initial Site Screenings in Polluted Communities in

Armenia

Varduhi Petrosyan, MS, PhDRuzanna Grigoryan, MD, MPH

Andrew McCartor, JD

Ramazzini Days

Carpi, Italy

October 2014

Outline

• Toxic Site Identification Program

• Initial Site Screenings (ISS) in Polluted Communities in ArmeniaPolluted Communities in Armenia

• Objectives

• Methods

• Finding

• Recommendations

Toxic Sites Identification Program

� Started 2009� Implemented with the United Nations Industrial Development

Organization and supported by World Bank, Asian Development Bank and European Commission

� In Armenia, the program is managed by American University of ArmeniaArmenia

� Scope:� “Toxic” pollutants

� Heavy metals, radionuclides, pesticides, PCBs, VOCs, PAHs, dioxins, etc.

� Not including: greenhouse gasses, sewage, non-toxic municipal waste

� From a point-source (no distributed air pollution)

� In low- and middle-income countries (as defined by World Bank)

� Creating a potential human health risk

� Goals:� Increase understanding of the scope of the problem

� Provide data to decision-makers

� Increase global funding for remediation

� Prioritize resources to address human health risks

Methodology of the Program

� Building a global database of hotspots � In each country, the program is implemented by a Country

Coordinator and a team of Site Investigators

� Two-day training in the program’s site screening methodology

� Local team identifies sites to screen � Local team identifies sites to screen

� Investigators conduct rapid ~4-day “initial site screening” at each site

� Photos; environmental sampling; estimation of population at risk; interviews; collection of pre-existing health data; observations regarding pollution source, pollution migration path and media, geography, climate, social patterns, etc.

� A rapid screening tool used to prioritize further study� Not a detailed site “assessment” as required for remediation

Geographic Scope of the Program� Since 2009, the Program has expanded to 65 low- and middle-income countries

� The database: 2,870 sites identified and 1,830 screenings completed

Mining in Armenia

• State Inventory of Mineral Resources -

400 active mines of metals and construction sand/stone

• Among them 22 metal mines (copper, molybdenum, gold)molybdenum, gold)

• 19 tailing ponds

Methods of ISS in Armenia• A two-day workshop on the methodology and ISS protocols

• Based on document review and expert opinions (Ministries of Nature Protection, Health, and Emergency Situations) 25 communities adjacent to toxic sites identified• 19 adjacent to mining and smelting industries

• Site observation and description

• Rapid stakeholder analysis with community members, local • Rapid stakeholder analysis with community members, local authorities such as health providers and mayors office staff, representatives from NGOs • 115 participants

� 92 soil samples � 40 residential � 29 agricultural and � 23 school/kindergarten

� Tested using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), total dissolution performed prior to analysis

• Neglected state of tailing ponds

• Lack of proper fencing and warning signs

• Some abandoned tailing ponds used as pasture sites or gardens

• No systematic and adequate monitoring of tailing ponds

• Multiple accidents, breaks, and leakages from tailing ponds or tailing pipes affecting communities

Observation Findings

ponds or tailing pipes affecting communities

• Located near residential areas or have a migration pathway to people through rivers, pastures and cultivated lands

• In some places tailings were used as construction material by community residents

• Children are exposed to heavy metals through contaminated soil in their yards and playgrounds

Mining Wastes Near the Communities

Tailing pond near the school Mining waste across community

roads

Wheat fields, pastures, and gardens near the tailing pond

Mining waste on the community road

Mining wastes in the river

flowing through residential

areas

Mining waste in the school yard source of exposure for children

Stakeholder Analysis Health and environmental impacts

according to stakeholders

• Health – increased number of myocardial infarction and stroke, hypertension, gastrointestinal diseases, fatigue, malignant tumors, allergies, birth defects, infertility, tumors, allergies, birth defects, infertility, respiratory diseases, headaches, and diabetes

• Reduced soil fertility and crop production, poor quality of some vegetables and fruits

• Disappearing species of animals (e.g., frogs and fish) in polluted rivers

Stakeholder Analysis Social impacts according to stakeholders

� Residents often forced to sell property to mining companies without proper compensation

� Low salaries of community members working in mines

� No medical insurance for mining workers or community

� Fear to raise concerns, particularly those who have family members working in minesfamily members working in mines

� Lack of trust towards policy and decision makers to resolve mining related socio-economic and health issues

� Damage to housing because of explosions and vibration

� Dust, noise, vibration and smell disturbing residents

� Agricultural products from polluted areas not competitive in the market because of being considered contaminated

Soil Sample Analysis Heavy metals Screening

level for residen-tial soil

Mg/kg

% of residential

soil samples above

screening level

n/N

% of school/ kindergarten playground soil samples

above screening

level

n/N

Screening level for agricultu-

ralsoil

Mg/kg

% of agricultural

soil samples above

screening level

n/N

Chromium 64 65.0 39.1 64 51.7Chromium total

64 65.026/40

39.19/23

64 51.715/29

Cadmium 70 0.00/40

0.00/23

1.4 17.25/29

Arsenic 0.61 97.539/40

39.19/23

12 34.510/29

Lead 400 5.02/40

0.00/23

70 13.84/29

Strengths and Limitations

Strengths � First large scale risk screening in Armenia

Limitations Limitations � No extra quality control measures taken by

the research team (i.e., absence of standard or duplicate samples)

� Initial screening - limited scope: low number of environmental samples

Recommendations � Conduct thorough risk assessments in the most affected

communities

� Develop local and national action plans to address the contamination

� Conduct community empowerment programs to reduce environmental and health risks in those communities. environmental and health risks in those communities.

All these activities need to be implemented in close collaboration with the Government of RA.

The ISS approach could be used for other sources of pollutants that pose a high risk of environmental contamination.

Questions?Geghanush tailing

pond in Syunik region

Copper smelter in Lori region

Artsvanik tailing pond in Syunik region

Nahatak tailing pond in Lori region