Pollution is the introduction of harmful substances into a specific area, which in turn causes a multitude of different problems within that environment1. Some pollutants have been present within certain environments for a while, but in safe amounts, which is why they were never a cause for concern before. When pollutants are introduced in an environment in unsafe amounts, that is when problems truly arise. Some of the most popular main causes of pollution are the burning of fossil fuels, transportation, and construction2. In Yerevan, the main sources that cause air pollution are mining, and, once again, transportation and construction3. It is important to understand the causes of air pollution in Yerevan, and to find ways to reduce the amount of pollution within the air.
The lack of public transportation in Yerevan is one of the main reasons as to why the city is battling severe air pollution4. Citizens decide to buy their own cars, which in turn increases carbon issues, leading to poor air quality indexes. When the layout of Yerevan was being constructed, it was built on the premise that public transportation would be the main mode of transportation4. Now, it is extremely common for the residents of Yerevan to have their own cars4, and primarily rely on that as their main method of transportation. As a result of the majority of the citizens driving their own vehicles, traffic becomes a major issue in Yerevan. Because the cars are moving slowly, the fuel within them is being burned at an inefficient pace, contributing to increased levels of carbon emissions, further worsening the air quality index. Unfortunately, most of the people living within Yerevan are extremely unhappy with the air quality, which often impedes on their quality of life4, which is why it is important to turn to eco-friendly behaviors to combat this issue.
Another major contributor to air pollution in Yerevan is the practice of costruction. Construction requires the trees to be cut down in a certain area. The direct consequence of this is that if trees are no longer present, then they are not absorbing the pollutants coming from the construction sites5. If there is nothing to absorb those toxic chemicals and debris, then they will stay in the air, eventually polluting it. Local residents exposed to these harmful toxins5 eventually become ill due to the presence of them within their bodies. Serious measures must be taken in order to remove these chemicals fron Yerevan’s environment. Additionally, construction within Yerevan leads to greenhouse gases being burned in order for machines to run efficiently, which in turn contributes to the poor quality of air in the city6. Additionally, there is an excess production of dust particles6 coming from these construction sites, which travel through the air and contributes to air pollution. The dust coming from these construction sites contain harmful substances6 that are not safe for humans to ingest. Serious measures need to be taken immediately, as the lives of the residents in Yerevan are being put at risk due to the quality of air.
In order to combat air pollution, it is important for the people living in Armenia to take eco-friendly and sustainable steps in their day to day lives to minimize the amount of contaminated air in the city. The government, through proper funding, can build cleaner and safer modes of public transportation to encourage the residents to decrease the amount of times they use their personal cars to get around. Additionally, restrictions can be placed on mining and construction companies to only use safer chemicals and materials when conducting their work, to reduce their carbon footprint. Finally, the younger generation of Armenians can promote more sustainable measures through social media and non profit groups.
The main culprits of air pollution in Yerevan are transportation, mining, and construction. These practices not only affect the environment, but also put the health of the residents at risk. By taking eco-friendly and sustainable measures in mind, the citizens of Yerevan and Armenia as a whole can work together to put a stop to air pollution. Yerevan, through these greener measures, will be able cleanse the air of harmful toxins, chemicals, and debris. Protecting the quality of air is not only important for the current generations of Armenians to be healthier, but also for the future generations to live environmentally friendly lives.
Sources
1 – Umces.edu ; no defined date of publication; https://www.umces.edu/sites/default/files/What%20is%20Pollution%20-%20Final.pdf
2 – Aqi.in; 2019; https://www.aqi.in/blog/here-are-the-10-main-causes-of-air-pollution/
3 – Ecolur.org; 2024; https://www.ecolur.org/en/news/air/15691/
4 – Evnreport.com; 2023; https://evnreport.com/raw-unfiltered/struggling-to-breathe-public-transportation-and-the-air-pollution-crisis/
5 – Maqurod.am; no defined date of publication; https://maqurod.am/en/
6 – Clarity.io; 2023; https://www.clarity.io/blog/air-quality-monitoring-in-construction-zones-minimizing-health-risks-enhancing-sustainability
