Reducing exposure to arsenic and lead in mining and smelting communities Alaverdi and Akhtala of Lori region, Armenia

Abstract

Contamination of mining and smelting communities and, as a result, community members’ exposure to toxicants remains a hot public health issue worldwide. The latter is particularly severe in low and middle income countries. Armenia is not an exception. There are 22 active metal mines in Armenia, mainly located in Lori and Syunik regions. Alaverdi and Akhtala in Lori region are prioritized mining and smelting communities for the current project due to significant contamination with toxic metals, particularly with lead and inorganic arsenic. The three main issues of concern in Alaverdi leading to significant spread of toxicants into the environment are smelter’s smokestack, arsenic graveyard, and uncontrolled use of slag. The biggest sources of contamination in Akhtala are abandoned “Nazik” tailing pond, the ore processing plant, and the local churchyard. This paper aims to develop a comprehensive overview of factors leading to people’s exposure to arsenic and lead in the mining and smelting communities Alaverdi and Akhtala in Lori region, analyze current prevention and intervention strategies, and suggest the most appropriate practice(s) to minimize the public health risk. Social-ecological model ofbehavior change was used to categorize the key determinants of exposure of community members of Alaverdi and Akhtala to arsenic and lead into the societal, community, relationship and individual levels. The possible interventions to solve the public health problem could address all four level key determinants. The proposed interventions are continuous educational programs in Alaverdi and Akhtala, seismic stabilization and hermetisation of walls of arsenic graveyard in Alaverdi, clean-up of Akhtala churchyard, cleanup of children’s play areas in Alaverdi and Akhtala, as well as capping, planting and isolation of “Nazik” tailings pond in Akhtala. Considering factors such as intervention’s effectiveness,political, technical, economical feasibility, intervention’s cost and sustainability of the results, the following interventions were prioritized: 1. Continuous educational program in Alaverdi and Akhtala, 2. Capping, planting and isolation of “Nazik” tailing pond in Akhtala, 3. Clean-up of children’s play areas in Alaverdi and Akhtala. The project team will develop an appropriate monitoring and evaluation plan for the recommended interventions.