Indian expert: Metallurgical plant in Armenia poses threat to locals' health

The impact of high concentrations of pollutants in the air caused by emissions from the metallurgical plant in the village of Arazdayan, located on the border with Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, will have a detrimental effect on the health of residents of the border zone, Hasim Abdul Halim, a spokesman for the Health and Family Welfare Department in the Government of India’s West Bengal state, told Report.

According to him, the high level of air pollution from the plant's emissions can adversely affect the health of the elderly, children and people with respiratory diseases, who are at risk.

“Long-term exposure to pollutants can cause breathing problems, cardiovascular and other diseases. To minimize the impact on locals, it is necessary to conduct a thorough assessment of the effect on the environment, to carry out continuous monitoring of air and water quality,” Hasim Abdul Halim emphasized.