.jpg)
According to weekly data released by the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center, air quality monitoring at three stations in Yerevan (Kentron, Arabkir, Shengavit) from September 16 to 22 showed a mixed picture, with airborne particulate matter (dust) remaining the most persistent problem.
Dust: the most concerning indicator
The longest exceedance was recorded in Arabkir, where dust concentration surpassed the permissible threshold on nearly every day of the monitored week. In Kentron, exceedances were recorded on fewer days (the 16th through the 19th, and the 21st), while in Shengavit dust levels stayed within the norm throughout the entire week.
Nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide: a calmer picture
Nitrogen dioxide levels exceeded the permissible threshold only in Kentron, on September 16 and 17, with no exceedances recorded in Arabkir or Shengavit. Sulfur dioxide levels, meanwhile, stayed within permissible limits throughout the week at all three monitoring stations.
Why this matters ?
Chronically elevated dust levels in Yerevan are not a new phenomenon, but the nearly continuous exceedance recorded in Arabkir is particularly notable, given that long-term exposure to particulate matter is linked to increased risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease, especially for children, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions. While a single week's data isn't enough to draw firm conclusions about long-term trends, repeated exceedances in a specific district are usually a signal to look more closely at local pollution sources (traffic, construction dust, the start of the heating season, and so on).