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Abstract
The main issue of the study was to assess environmental risk-factors most contribute and associated to an elevated lead concentration in the blood of children. The study group comprises children under the age of 10 residing in the Gurjaani region, who underwent testing in 2021 as part of the Georgian State Lead Program and exhibiting a high blood lead concentration (BLL) of 33.5. The total number of participants meeting these criteria amounted to 65 children out of which, 22 children were randomly selected. To investigate the environmental sources contributing to elevated lead concentration in children's blood, a total of 244 samples were examined using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF).
Results of the Study show that in the living environment and household items of the children involved in the study, a notable prevalence of lead concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible concentration was observed. Among the 104 dish samples examined, 38% (n=40) exhibited lead concentrations surpassing the maximum permissible concentration (>90ppm). In a subset of the dish samples (20%, n=21), the lead content was found to be remarkably high, exceeding the maximum permissible concentration by 1600%. Of the paint samples analyzed (n=42), a concerning 45% (n=19) exhibited lead concentrations surpassing the permissible limit (>90ppm).