Experts urges government to introduce comprehensive control over food chain
16.10.2017,
16:13
David Pipoyan, the head of a unit in charge of food risk assessment at the Center for Eco-Noosphere Research of the National Academy of Sciences, urged the government to introduce a comprehensive control over the food chain in order to eliminate the risks of infectious diseases.
YEREVAN, October 16. /ARKA/. David Pipoyan, the head of a unit in charge of food risk assessment at the Center for Eco-Noosphere Research of the National Academy of Sciences, urged the government to introduce a comprehensive control over the food chain in order to eliminate the risks of infectious diseases.
Speaking to a news conference today he said unless such a system is introduced that will, in particular, exclude the possibility of irrigation of farmland by sewage water, the risk of spreading infectious diseases will increase dramatically.
Reports in the Armenian media last week said that farmers near the town of Masis broke sewage pipes in October to irrigate their gardens and fields, creating the threat of spreading infectious and other diseases through the use of agricultural products.
According to Pipoyan, irrigation of agricultural lands with sewage water carries two types of threats: firstly, the spread of infectious diseases through food, and secondly, contamination of fertile soil with heavy metals and chemicals, which can lead to the development of oncological diseases.
"If a batch of dangerous food products can be destroyed, improvement of the contaminated soil requires large financial injections, as well as a long period of time - up to 3-5 years," he said.
Pipoyan also noted that cases of irrigation of gardens and farmland with wastewater in the vicinity of Masis have been observed since 2007. However, no measures were taken to prevent it. -0-
Speaking to a news conference today he said unless such a system is introduced that will, in particular, exclude the possibility of irrigation of farmland by sewage water, the risk of spreading infectious diseases will increase dramatically.
Reports in the Armenian media last week said that farmers near the town of Masis broke sewage pipes in October to irrigate their gardens and fields, creating the threat of spreading infectious and other diseases through the use of agricultural products.
According to Pipoyan, irrigation of agricultural lands with sewage water carries two types of threats: firstly, the spread of infectious diseases through food, and secondly, contamination of fertile soil with heavy metals and chemicals, which can lead to the development of oncological diseases.
"If a batch of dangerous food products can be destroyed, improvement of the contaminated soil requires large financial injections, as well as a long period of time - up to 3-5 years," he said.
Pipoyan also noted that cases of irrigation of gardens and farmland with wastewater in the vicinity of Masis have been observed since 2007. However, no measures were taken to prevent it. -0-
