Yerevan's air quality worsened in January, official says

Air quality in Yerevan fell into the unhealthy range in January, deteriorating compared with the same period in 2025, according to the city authorities.

Data from 186 air-monitoring devices installed at construction sites across the capital show that the average Air Quality Index (AQI) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) reached 159, classified as unhealthy. PM10 levels averaged 88. In January 2025, the corresponding figures were 137 for PM2.5, considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, and 71 for PM10, officials said.

Speaking at a municipal meeting, the head of the Environmental Protection Department on Monday, Sirarpi Haykazyan, said the city was testing an air-quality forecasting system by combining sensor data with information from the Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center. She said this would help identify the distribution of human-related sources contributing to high PM2.5 levels.

Haykazyan added that technical specifications were being developed for new devices to measure vehicle emissions, with the aim of assessing their impact on air quality and introducing targeted restrictions if necessary.

Mayor Tigran Avinyan said the monitoring system had helped uncover long-standing patterns that had not previously been studied in depth. He criticised “semi-informed” public commentary on air pollution and stressed the importance of sharing data with residents.

“We need to share this information with citizens so that misconceptions decrease,” he said, adding that greater transparency would help the public better understand air-quality trends in Yerevan.