KNOWLEDGE OF GEORGIAN POPULATION TOWARDS AIR POLLUTION AND HEALTH EFFECTS OF LEAD CONTAMINATION

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Public Health
• Toxicology

Background:

• Air pollution poses significant health risks globally.
• Lead exposure is a critical environmental health concern with severe consequences.
• Public awareness is a key factor in mitigating environmental health threats.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Georgian population's knowledge of air pollution and its health effects.
• To assess awareness regarding lead exposure and its associated health problems.
• To gauge understanding of environmental pollutants and protective measures.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was conducted in Georgia in October 2019.
• Participants were recruited via Facebook advertisement targeting the general population.
• The survey assessed knowledge on air pollution, lead, and protective measures like face masks.

Main Results:

• 90.3% of respondents correctly identified air pollution as a cause of diseases.
• 76.8% expressed concern about environmental pollution and lead exposure.
• Awareness of the informational website www.air.gov.ge was also assessed.

Conclusions:

• The Georgian population shows considerable awareness of air pollution and lead exposure risks.
• There is a need to promote educational resources like www.air.gov.ge to enhance public knowledge.
• Findings support the development of targeted educational campaigns on environmental health issues.