The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). Working with international and local partner organisations, and the Secretariat to the Rotterdam Convention, the project is seeking to cover twelve countries – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, The Republic of Moldova, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. Currently, the project is operational in six former Soviet Republics – Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, and Ukraine.

In Armenia, the activities related to awareness raising on (obsolete) pesticides started on 15 August 2014 and will be accomplished by 14 May, 2015. The local project partner for this part of the project is AWHHE NGO.

The activities on awareness raising have two components and are implemented by AWHHE in coordination with FAO and jointly with the following partners:
• Milieukontakt International, the Netherlands
• Pesticide Action Network – the United Kingdom (PAN-UK)

Component 1: Awareness raising on Obsolete Pesticides
This project component is implemented in partnership with Milieukontakt International in the frame of “Improved pesticides and chemicals management in the former Soviet Union” project (http://milieukontakt.net/en/?p=1600 ).

AWHHE will conduct an awareness raising campaign on obsolete pesticides in 20 villages in four target regions (Tavush, Lori, Gegharkunik and Syunik) based on the results of a baseline study on farmers, local village people (most specifically women and children), community organizations, regional and national public agencies.

Component 2: Awareness raising on Pesticide Use
This project component is implemented in the frame of “Reducing pesticide risks and promoting alternatives in the former Soviet Union” project by PAN UK (http://www.pan-uk.org/projects/pan-uk-project-reducing-pesticide-risks-and-promoting-alternatives-in-the-former-soviet-union)

AWHHE conducted a baseline study on pesticide exposure in Armenia which captured data concerning high risk practices and exposure scenarios with a particular focus on women. This data was used to inform communications and awareness raising activity, to strengthen regulatory decision-making and to prepare for more in-depth studies of pesticide poisoning and its causes in the higher risk communities identified.

PAN-UK staff, accompanied by Rotterdam Convention Secretariat, recently visited Armenia to initiate the baseline study jointly with AWHHE. Detailed information is provided below:

For more information on the project please visit project website 
http://www.fao.org/in-action/pesticides-fsu/en/

• Final report: Protecting farmers and vulnerable groups from pesticide poisoning

• Project goal: to promote quick ratification and assist treaty implementation.
• Project duration: 9 months (January-July 2014)

Armenia signed the Minamata Convention on mercury in October 2013 and has already launched enabling activities towards its ratification.

Mercury is used in a wide variety of household devices and products. These items release mercury into the environment when broken or improperly disposed. If spilled, mercury absorbs into many materials while slowly evaporating into the air over time, allowing for exposure. Knowing what products and items contain mercury and handling them properly, will limit the risk of mercury exposure. Common products often have a simple and environmentally friendly alternative.

The project focused on the following most common mercury containing products available to the public in Armenia

• Mercury containing medical devices
• Mercury containing vaccine
• Dental amalgam used in previous years
• Mercury containing batteries
• Mercury containing lamps
• LED screens of mobile phones and computer/laptop screens
• Mercury containing skin-lightening creams and children’s cosmetics
• A matter of special concern is presence of mercury containing pesticides in storages of banned and obsolete pesticides.

AWHHE acknowledges financial support by Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC) and the European Commission (EC) via the European Environmental Bureau/Zero Mercury Working Group in this project

Avoid Using Mercury Containing Devices ( eng / arm )

These toys are dangerous!

Activities

Signature collection among the Yerevan Zoo visitors on the International Children’s Day

Dissemination of information at the Zoo

Dissemination of information via television

Provision of safe toys to the children of the orphanage named after Mary Izmirlyan

Workshop on Toy Safety Issues

Parents’ and teachers’ awareness raising at No. 12 and 19 kindergartens

Parents’ and teachers’ awareness raising at No. 13 and 22 kindergartens

Raising awareness among young mothers in Yerevan and the Tavush Province

Workshop in Aparan Aarhus center of Aragatsotn province 

Roundtable-discussion on Summary of the Work done on the Safety of Toys

Mercury is toxic in all its forms exhibiting adverse health and environmental effects in particular for pregnant women and small children.  The alarming level of mercury pollution is an issue of global concern and a global treaty on mercury is being developed.

In Armenia, one of major sources of mercury pollution is the landfills and waste dumps, where all solid waste including hazardous waste is dumped together due to the lack of treatment and recycling facilities.

Non-ferrous metal production is another major source of atmospheric mercury emissions. Hazard of leakage into the air, soil and water is extremely high presenting significant threats, including possible transboundary contamination. The control measures are weak, policy dialogue, information exchange and cooperation among main stakeholders is poor. Low awareness and thus low civil society participation and inadequate concern over environmental threats may result in major environmental, health, social and economic problems. The project will contribute to the on-going national policy dialogue and highlight implications of possible trans-boundary mercury contamination. 

The project will use materials and results of the projects that AWHHE implemented in the recent years. The project will contribute to the efforts of international organizations (such as OSCE, UNEP) and NGO networks (such as ZMWG, IPEN and GEF-NGO) to increase the pressure for a robust globally binding treaty following the INC deliberations. As the National NGO SAICM Focal Point in Armenia, AWHHE actively participates in meetings for the international mercury treaty, as well as the International Conference on Chemical Management meeting (ICCM), this experience will allow AWHHE to assume the leading role in mobilizing the NGO community.

Project Objective:

The primary objective of the project is to promote civic engagement in national policy dialogue on the global mercury treaty.

Round table >>

Press conference in EcoLur Press Club >>

Workshop >>

Սնդիկի վերաբերյալ Մինամատայի կոնվենցիայի նախագիծը>>

WHERE ARE THE MERCURY EMISSIONS IN ARMENIA?

During summer 2012, the Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE) conducted snapshot air tests at 9 sites across Yerevan and the regions of Kotayk and Gegharkunik to gather and analyze information on potential mercury exposure. The air testing in Armenia was supported by the European Environmental Bureau/Zero Mercury Working Group as part of its worldwide effort to raise awareness about the need for a strong, legally binding global instrument on mercury. Now that the Mercury Treaty is adopted, experiences from this project should be considered, for a quick country ratification and eventual implementation of the treaty measures.
Mercury vapor concentration in ambient air and in the air of residential quarters was measured with the use of a portable mercury monitoring instrument – Lumex.

The measurement results showed that some tests exceeded the threshold of 300 ng/m3, which the Ministry of Health considers safe.

INDUSTRIAL SMELTING

One of the major sources of atmospheric mercury emissions is non-ferrous metal production where mercury is produced as a byproduct of processing ore in mining. If trace mercury is not removed during processing, one plant may emit tonnes of mercury. Such facility should be equipped with demercurization technologies.

Metal is generally extracted from the ore by heating it to a temperature that releases the metal. As mercury has a lower boiling point than many other metals, the mercury is often released as a gas during smelting process. Unless the mercury is captured by process equipment dedicated to this purpose, much of it will be released to the air, water and soil.

The Maqur Yerkat smelter is the leading enterprise in Yerevan processing copper-molybdenum ore concentrates extracted from Kajaran and other mines in the South of Armenia. The major pathways for mercury releases during initial processing for copper and molybdenum include air, water, soil, wastes/residues, and eventually certain products. Following the purchase of the Makur Yerkat smelter by the German Cronimet Metals Group (75% of the stocks), production levels have significantly increased. The measurements taken near the Smelter averaged 500 ng/m3 with single measurement going up to 1500 ng/m3 which exceeds the permissible level of 300 ng/m3 by three times.

MERCURY AIR POLLUTION
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AREA AND BASEMENT FLOORS
YEREVAN

A Case Study

Given the fact that residents sometimes keep discarded products that have come out of the use in the basements before disposal, AWHHE measured levels of mercury in one of the residential areas of Yerevan, at 3 Alikhanyan Street.

Background mercury pollution near the building varied within 0-2 ng/m3 level. On the top of the staircases to the basements, mercury air pollution was 2 ng/m3; down the stairs the mercury level increased to 6 ng/ m3 reaching the maximum level of 150 ng/m3 at the cellar doors.

At the opening of the cellar door, the measurement reached 240 ng/m3. Inside the cellar, the level increased reaching 1470 ng/m3 at the shelves where broken fluorescent lamps were found, kept there for a number of years. The residents were surprised to find out that the fluorescent lamps were the source of air pollution. Although the level of mercury in the 2nd floor apartments was low (2-3 ng/m3), presumably due to good isolation, the polluted air could easily enter the apartment through the open door or windows while “airing” the rooms.

Mercury is toxic in all its forms, as a potent neurotoxin it is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and children.

Once released into the environment, mercury becomes part of bio-geochemical cycle contaminating soil, air, groundwater and surface water where it accumulates and moves up the food chain.

Toxic mercury is especially dangerous to the health of young women, children and developing fetuses.

Even in low doses, mercury may affect a child’s development, delaying walking and talking, shortening attention span and causing learning disabilities. Breathing air polluted with mercury is among the most common ways for exposure to this toxic chemical.

Implementing organizations: “Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment” NGO /AWHHE/ (Armenia) and “Independent Ecological Expertise” NGO/IEE (Kyrgyzstan)

Overall goal: To advance ongoing efforts to eliminate toxic substances in toys on the market in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus and Ukraine by 2020 and contribution into SAICM implementation in the targeted countries by initiating the development of a global information system on chemicals in toys.

Results of the project:

An assessment report was developed based on literature review and analysis of manufacture, export/import of toys, legislation, labeling related to toxic chemicals in toys and marketing research in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.

Research revealed that the number of imported toys exceeds the number of exported toys in targeted countries. Toys in the largest quantities are imported from China in both countries.

In Armenia, there is only one certified toy manufacturing enterprise and a few small toy companies that are not certified. During the visits to all branded stores AWHHE met with the store managers, sellers and buyers. AWHHE reviewed a range of toys and checked the availability of certificates on packaging, labeling and safety. The toys in branded shops were in packages and had labels. The labels contained the signs of international standardization. Therefore, all toys both produced in Armenia and imported that are sold through the registered stores have appropriate documentation. As for the toys sold by individual sellers in fairs, the majority of them have no certificate in Armenia as well as in Kyrgyzstan.  In addition, the Kyrgyz experts faced difficulties with the survey of sales representatives. The respondents (in stores and markets) refused to answer questions, citing various reasons.

Marketing survey in shop (Armenia)

Survey was conducted among parents and teachers of kindergarten and consumers in Kyrgyzstan and Armenia. According to the results of the survey, the number of consumers purchasing toys from the fair trade points exceeds the number of people making a purchase from the branded stores, as the toys in shops are more expensive than those in the fairs in both countries. All the respondents in both countries indicated that the market is dominated by Chinese toys. Most often the consumers complained of the following: bad smell, “easily crumbled”, “electrical disturbance”, “flammable” and color loss. This means that many children are at risk of being exposed to hazardous toys.

Survey of the teachers in kindergarten (Armenia)

Of the surveyed parents in Armenia, 64,7% pay attention to the labeling of toys. Twelve 12 samples of toys were submitted to the laboratory of the Kyrgyz State Sanitary and Epidemiological Oversight Department.  Due to lack of capacities and human resources the laboratory was able to check on the following: styrene, phenol, formaldehyde, methyl alcohol, resistance of the coating to wet processing, saliva and sweat and compliance with the design. Deviations from the hygiene standards were identified in five samples, where the content of the above toxic elements exceeded the maximum permissible concentration of 5 or more times.

Information and awareness raising campaign implemented in the frame of the project targeted the toy consumers, regulators, producers and vendors. Information materials were created and disseminated at the relevant national and international events on chemicals management, environment and health issues. Articles were published about the toys security in Armenian electronic newspapers.

Meeting in Ararat Aarhus center (Armenia)

Taking into account the high potential risk and high vulnerability of children to chemicals through contact with toys the IEE together with Eco-Accord and several more non-governmental organizations initiated a campaign on “Toxic Free Toys”. As a result, several thousand signatures were collected in September 2011 with 800 signatures collected in Kyrgyzstan alone in support of safety of toys campaign.  On May 31, 2011 IEE sent an appeal for improvement in the safety of toys to the President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minister with the above 800 signatures of the citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic. In addition, IEE prepared a petition for recognition of the law contrary to the KR Government inaction, and in July 2011 it was filed in Inter-district Court of Bishkek.

Side event, the 7th “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference (Kazakhstan)

During the reporting period toys were purchased from markets and specialized stores in Armenia and Kyrgyzstan. The analysis on chemicals, especially heavy metals in toys will be conducted in 2012 with the support of IPEN. The toys will be analyzed with the help of a portable X-ray fluorescence analyzer.

YEREVAN – Help the rural communities to implement sustainable agriculture and eliminate the danger of chemical pollution in Ararat and Armavir regions. That is the main goal of the new project launched by Czech not-for profit organization Arnika and Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE). Project is focused on finding of technical solutions to eliminate several hot spots contamination by obsolete toxic pesticides caused by their improper management and storage, including so called persistent organic pollutants (POPs). It will also help Armenia to implement international Stockholm Convention.

“Since 1960s, hundreds of tons of pesticides have been used in agriculture. We can still feel the consequences in a form of serious contamination of particular places,” says Lilik Simonyan, AWHHE executive director. “In our project, we wish to find the solutions at least for some of the most disturbing cases, and also show the alternative ways of environmentally responsible and economically modest agriculture. Although the pesticides that are on sale now, are not banned by Stockholm Convention, they also pose a risk on human health,” refers Mrs. Simonyan.

AWHHE expects solution to some of the most disturbing cases. „Placing the problem of obsolete pesticides hot spots in political agenda should be our main goal“, says Mrs. Lilik Simonyan. She also mentioned the organization?s disappointment with the current situation which is very unsatisfactory and in some cases has even worsened during last year. The conclusion of a recent visit to the most discussed burial site in administrative area of Yerevan , which constitutes a serious threat despite of years of lobbying, confirms these findings. This obsolete pesticides burial site will be one of the main cases to be solved in frames of the project.

Arnika will bring its expert skills regarding the real danger of the pesticides stored in selected hot spots or being still used, and experience with cleaning up similar burdens in the Czech Republic . “It is necessary not only to clean-up contaminated sites, but also to deal with the contamination responsibly, not to allow new risk to the public health and the environment”, says Jindrich Petrlik, executive director of Toxics and Waste program of Arnika. He stresses, that non-combustion technologies of the cleanup should be used, that don’t lead to another pollution of the environment.

Both, AWHHE and Arnika believe that only cooperation of the non-governmental organizations, regional authorities, municipalities, governmental bodies and experts can bring sustainable solutions. Project activities will also consist of educational programs for villagers and farmers. “It is essential to give the people as much possibilities to participate in decision making procedures as possible,” says Martin Skalsky of Arnika. In a similar case in Czech village Pozdatky, a close cooperation of all stakeholders lead to cleanup of broke down hazardous waste storage in several years.

A joint project of Arnika Association and Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE) is called „Scaling Up Experience in Improvement of Chemical Safety to Contribute to Poverty Reduction in Rural Armenia“. It is financed by European Union, Global Environmental Facility through UNDP, Global Greengrants Fund, International POPs Elimination Network, Women in Europe for a Common Future (WECF). The start-up meeting of the project took place in Yerevan on March 29, 2010.

Armenian Women will organize seminars and workshops, to establish a network of Armenian civic associations and also to establish information center on chemical safety in Yerevan . This will enable the interested people to get information easily, and strengthen the cooperation among non-governmental sector with other parts of the society.

“Chemical contamination can debase the quality of water, soil, and other environmental compartments. This vicious cycle of dependency can be broken by raising awareness and promoting alternatives,” says Lilik Simonyan expert of the AWHHE on toxic chemicals. Due to lack of relevant information, citizens are not able to organize and fight for their rights, which should also be addressed by the project activities.

This workshop is organized with the financial assistance of the European Union . Its contents are sole responsibility of Arnika Association and Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.

EUROPEAN UNION

Start-up meeting presentations

• Start up meeting
  Elena Manvelyan, AWHHE
• Technologies for Obsolete Pesticides Destruction and Clean-up Methods
  Jindrich Petrlik, Arnika – Toxics and Waste Programme
• Public Campaigns and Strategic Planning
  Martin Skalsky, Arnika – Toxics and Waste Programme
• IPEN and its Approach to Obsolete Pesticides Stockpiles Problem
  Jindrich Petrlik, Arnika – Toxics and Waste Programme
• Pesticides – Risk s for Environment and Our Health
  Vendula Krcmarova, Arnika – Toxics and Waste Programme
• An Introduction, History of Use, Alternatives
  Darina Havlikova, Arnika – Toxics and Waste Programme
• Week without pesticides
  Lusine Nalbandyan, AWHHE

Press Releases

• May 31, 2011. Press release: International Conference to discuss problems related to contamination by toxic pollutants and pesticides in Armenia
• 30 November, 2010. Joint Press Release of the Arnika Association and Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE) organisation.

Photos

SAICM Home Page

• SAICM FAQs
  

News

• Chemical Safety and the Rotterdam Convention
• IPEN General Assembly, 2010
• “Pesticides. Are They Really Necessary?” Film Presentation at UN House
• Prime Minister Visited Nubarashen Waste Burial Ground
• Mini-Hearing on Obsolete Pesticides in Eastern European Countries, the Caucasus and Central Asian countries
• Emergency Situation Around the Burial Site of Obsolete and Banned Pesticides in Armenia
• Czech experts discovered old DDT stocks in Armenia. Now, they want to help with solutions of old burden

List of Pesticides Permitted in Armenia

Chemical profiles

• Cypermethrin
• Fipronil
• Beta-cyfluthrin
• Bromuconazole
• Clofentezine
• Clopyralid
• Diazinone
• Dimethoate
• Fenazaquin
• Fenpropathrin
• Formothion
• Heptenophos
• Imidacloprid
• Lambda-cyhalothrin
• Mancozeb
• Permethrin
• Thiacloprid
• Thiamethoxam
• Pesticide residues and maximum residue level

Final report on the results of environmental sampling conducted in Armenia in July ? November 2010 as a part of the joint Czech?Armenian project “Scaling Up Experience in Improvement of Chemical Safety to Contribute to Poverty Reduction in Rural Armenia”

Solutions for the destruction of POPs wastes

Pesticide monitoring in Armenia (Zuzana Honzajkova, Marek Sir, Institute of Chemical Technology in Prague, November 2010)

Round Table Presentations

• Nubarashen burial site
• Results of sampling and chemical analyses from several hot spots in Armenia
• POPs hot spots – evaluation of Arnika’s research at 5 sites in Armenia

10th Annyversary of Stockholm Convention, International Conference; 31, May, 2011, Tsakhkadzor, Armenia

Improvement of Chemical Safety in Rural Armenia – conference brochure, 2011

POPs recommendations