According to a World Bank study, air pollution in Armenia is responsible for over 3,000 deaths annually, with PM2.5 being a major contributor to these fatalities. Yet, despite the alarming data, Environment Minister Hakob Simidyan has downplayed concerns, stating that the current monitoring system shows no significant increase in air pollution. He attributes public worry to sensor devices installed by Yerevan Municipality at construction sites and figures reported by IQAir.
However, the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center, which is responsible for monitoring air quality in Armenia, only tracks a limited number of pollutants: sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), ground-level ozone (O₃), and undifferentiated dust particles (does not specify which particle size).
This monitoring system, which was installed during the Soviet era, is both outdated and inadequate. It fails to measure PM2.5, the very pollutant that is most harmful to human health, especially for those with heart and lung conditions. Moreover, the system is not of the professional-grade standard used in many other countries to inform policy decisions and shape effective air quality management.
Without official data on PM2.5, we are left to rely on community-driven sensors like those from IQAir and other independent monitoring platforms, such as ArmAQI, Clarity (installed by Yerevan Municipality) and PurpleAir. While these devices may have limitations, they provide the only real-time information available about the air we breathe. Until the government upgrades to professional-grade monitoring stations, it cannot claim there is no serious air pollution problem in Armenia—especially when the very pollutant responsible for the most harm remains unmonitored.
Furthermore, when comparing air quality data from IQAir with neighboring countries, the relative difference in pollution levels becomes clear. While the exact PM2.5 figures may vary slightly, IQAir provides a consistent and reliable benchmark for comparing air quality from country to country. This makes it evident that Armenia's air pollution is far higher than that of its neighbors. This discrepancy underscores the urgent need for accurate, reliable, and comprehensive air quality monitoring in Armenia, if the authorities believe the alarming measurements across a variety of community-driven sensors is entirely inaccurate.
