HEALTH RISK-FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH LEAD EXPOSURE IN THE KVEMO KARTLI REGION OF GEORGIA

In 2018, the first national study on blood lead levels (BLL) in children aged 2-7 years was conducted as a part of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). The results revealed that a significant proportion of children (41%) had BLLs exceeding 5 μg/dL. The aim of this study is to evaluate the health risks associated with the potential environmental impacts of technogenic chemical agents in the Bolnisi-Dmanisi region. Additionally, the research seeks to develop recommendations for mitigating these risks through appropriate preventative and corrective measures.

A cross-sectional method was used for this survey and biomonitoring to assess sources of lead exposure. Three target groups (TGs) were selected for the study based on potential exposure levels, randomly interviewed about their health status, and subjects were randomly selected to undergo venous blood testing for lead. For the correlation defining the Statistical analysis of crossover interference using the chi-square model was used. The results obtained determine the relative risks of various nosologies among the TGs, the correlations with various risk factors, and their potential cause-and-effect relationships.

Our results revealed a significant reduction in BLLs among residents of the study region when compared to the MICS results. In 2023, our findings indicated a decrease in BLLs among populations in potentially exposed areas of Kvemo Kartli. Specifically, the average BLL in the Kvemo Kartli region decreased by approximately 50%, from 4.2 μg/dL in 2018 to 1.8 μg/dL in 2023. Demographic risk factors did not exhibit significant variation across the TGs. Notably, statistically significant relative risks (RR) for diseases of the eye and adnexa were observed in the first and second TGs, while no such significant associations were found for other diseases.

Although the MICS study conducted in the country five years ago showed a significant reduction (by two times or more) in the high average biomonitoring results recorded in children, our study still revealed certain low, yet credible, health risks in populations living 'near production/mining' sites and 'potentially living on ore,' according to some nosological classes. The biomonitoring results also recorded isolated cases of relatively high BLLs, particularly in the exposed groups compared to the control group. Based on these findings, we conclude that the measures implemented over the past five years have yielded positive results, significantly reducing lead concentrations in humans. However, certain low but credible health risks persist in the presumably exposed areas. These results can serve as a baseline for future research, and periodic monitoring will help track the progress towards further improvement in the region.