The National Monitoring Department on Environment continued its monitoring activity on atmosphere, rainfalls, soil, surface waters, as well as radioactive contamination of environment, carried out assessment and prognostication of environmental processes arriving from anthropogenic impacts, as well as establishment of data basis on environmental condition, prepared operative and routine data, and provided their broadcasting.
The monitoring of atmospheric pollution was conducted in 26 observation posts located in 8 large industrial cities of the country - Baku, Sumqayit, Ganja, Mingachevir, Shirvan, Nakhichevan, Lankaran and Shaki. 100343 specimens were taken regarding background composition of atmosphere in these cities and specific harmful substances of each city during 2010 and subsequently 102796 analysis were implemented within 18 pollutants on those patterns. Daily bulletins were prepared in 231 circulations “on contamination level of atmosphere and radiation condition of natural environment”, delivered to related state bodies, and data on them were regularly uploaded to the official website of the Ministry.
The monitoring of chemical composition of atmospheric rainfalls were implemented in 21 settlements of 6 regions of the country i.e. Absheron peninsula, Kura-Aras lowland, Minor Caucasus, north-eastern and southern slopes of Major Caucasus and Lankaran zone over 8 indices (pH, sulphate, nitrate, phosphate, ammonium, chlorides, calcium, magnesium, coarseness, electric conductivity and hydrocarbonate ions). 2764 chemical analysis were conducted over 250 rainfall specimens (rain, snow) taken within 2010.
The monitoring of surface water pollution was carried out in 50 observation posts over 42 water objects (27 rivers, 4 water areas, 1 harbor, and 10 lakes). In this regard 12375 physical-chemical analysis were implemented over 640 water examples taken from detergents, oil products, phenols, organic oxidizers, chlorine organic pesticides, heavy metals and water mineral composition. As a result of the monitorings “decade hydro-chemical bulletins regarding pollution level of Kura and Aras tronsboundary rivers” in 36 circulations, and “monthly hydro-chemical bulletins regarding surface water objects” in 12 circulations were prepared, submitted to certain governmental bodies and data on them were uploaded to the official website of the Ministry.
The monitorings on examination of contamination of background composition of soils with oil products, pesticides and heavy metals in the territory of the country were proceeded. 17099 chemical analysis were carried out within the 937 soil specimens taken during the monitorings of soils pollution implemented in 2010.
Daily observations on radiation background of environment were conducted in 36 settlements thrice a day (at 9 am, 3 pm, and 6 pm) encompassing the whole country areas. According to the consequences of the measurements daily bulletins were made in 231 circulations, delivered to related state bodies, and data on them were uploaded to the official website of the Ministry. Observations on b-radioactivity of atmospheric aeorosols were implemented in 3924 pad specimens taken from Baku, Sumqayit, Ganja, Lankaran, Shaki, Zaqatala, Quba, Nakhichevan, Agjabadi, Agstafa and Oil Stones based on appropriate analysis.
Automated monitoring control system was installed on radiation background in meteorological stations located in Pirallahi island and Qazakh, Sadarak, Nakhichevan AR, Beylagan, Astara and Quba regions which are bordered with countries utilizing nuclear technologies on the project of advancement of infrastructure in the sphere of radioactivity monitoring in the Republic of Azerbaijan” within the framework of the program of technical partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Currently monitoring data are transmitted to the National Monitoring Department on Environment of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Management Center at Emergency Situations of the Ministry of Emergency Situations every half an hour.
Module type purifiers were installed in 156 settlements of 18 regions with the total population of more than 300 thousand people and given to use of people by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources for the purpose of supply of people with ecologically pure water in Kura-Aras riverside areas and other settlements in accordance with the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan “On several measures regarding improvement of maintenance of ecologically pure water of people”. Currently these works are conducted in 29 villages of 18 regions with the total population of more than 45 thousand. The purifiers were provided with technical service based on agreements signed with municipalities of the settlements supplied with installations in accordance with the decree № 239 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 30, 2010. Over the last period quality of fresh water taken from the purifiers was supervised. Likewise water quality control was carried out by independent labs. Mobile monitorings were conducted by the Department during this year in the areas unsurrounded with stationary observation posts, as well as in the territory of the country, especially in water objects of Absheron peninsula and on sources with strong physically effective abilities based on received applications and tasks. As a result of implemented monitorings references were prepared, submitted to certain governmental bodies, and data on them were regularly uploaded to the official website of the Ministry.
79 recourses received to the Department via the “Hot Line” within the current year were reviewed. 61 applications were positively settled, 11 recourses were kept under control, while 7 of them were sent to related bodies for consideration.