Sos Hovhannisyan, an official at the Ministry of Health's Hygienic and Anti-Epidemic Inspectorate, stated that no toxic exhausts have been registered as a result of the explosion and ensuing fire that damaged the Nayirit Cemical Plant on May 13. Mr. Hovhannisyan stated, "From the day of the accident, all the data we have collected up till this morning show that those chemical exhausts that could have been caused form the blast do not exceed safe hygienic norms." Health Ministry staffers were on the scene immediately after the accident, conducting testing of possible health risks and results of the blast. Samples were taken that same evening which were later tested. The Ministry of Health official noted that chlorine and chlorine based compounds lead to a number of human allergies, most notably affecting the eyes and respiratory tract mucous membranes. Mr. Hovhannisyan stated that none of the local hospitals have admitted patients with symptoms corresponding to chlorine exposure. "We even haven't registered cases of inflammation in chronically ill patients, something that is linked to chlorine exposure." Mr. Hovhannisyan concluded by saying that those living in proximity to the plant face no medical risks.