Heavy metals in soils, foodstuffs, and human hair in the mining and metallurgical communities of Alaverdi and Akthala, Lori province of Armenia

The study was focused on the monitoring and evaluation of pollution by heavy metals in the industrial region of Alaverdi and Akhtala in the north-east of Armenia. A set of samples of soil, foodstuffs (home-grown vegetables, fruits, and honey), and human hair was carried out to monitor the distribution of industrial contamination with respect to various legislative limits and potentially hazardous effects on human health. The samples were taken on nine farms on an area that covers the close surroundings of industrial facilities in Alaverdi (the Alaverdi metallurgical plant) and community of Akhtala (copper mines and tailing ponds) in July 2019.

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