PARENTS BEWARE: TOYS SOLD IN YEREVAN FOUND TO CONTAIN 250 TIMES ACCEPTABLE MERCURY LEVELS
Kristine Aghalaryan
19:43, December 18, 2012
Joe Digangi, a U.S. based advisor with IPEN (International POPs
Elimination Network), announced that children’s toys randomly tested
in the markets and shops in Yerevan were found to contain 250 times
the acceptabe safe levels of mercury.
The study is part of an overall IPEN project that the organization
tested in six countries in Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia
in December 2012.
The study measured the toxic metals in 569 children’s products bought
at random on the markets and shops of Yerevan (Armenia), Minsk
(Belarus), Almaty (Kazakhstan), Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan); Aprelevka,
Kolomna, Moscow, Sochi and Volgograd (Russia ), Kiev (Ukraine). The
relevant test measurements were performed using a portable X-ray
fluorescence analyzer (XRF), focused on the definition of lead,
mercury, arsenic, and antimony, although the content and other
toxic metals – cadmium and chromium. The data allowed identifying a
significant group of products that contain lead, mercury, arsenic,
and antimony concentrations in excess “levels of concern” for them.
Overall, the IPEN study revealed that approximately 27% of the products
contained at least one of these toxic metals and 13% contained more
than two, increasing the potential for harm.