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Reduction in Blood Lead Concentration in Children across the Republic of Georgia following Interventions to Address Widespread Exceedance of Reference Value in 2019

Author

Listed:
  • Ekaterine Ruadze

    (The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia)

  • Giovanni S. Leonardi

    (UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK
    Department of Social and Environmental Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK)

  • Ayoub Saei

    (UK Health Security Agency, Statistics Unit, Department of Statistics, Modelling and Economics, London NW9 5EQ, UK)

  • Irma Khonelidze

    (The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia)

  • Lela Sturua

    (The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia)

  • Vladimer Getia

    (The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia)

  • Helen Crabbe

    (UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK)

  • Tim Marczylo

    (UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK)

  • Paolo Lauriola

    (International Society of Doctors for the Environment-Italy (ISDE-Italy), 42122 Modena, Italy)

  • Amiran Gamkrelidze

    (The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia)

Abstract

In recent years, reports of lead contamination have dramatically increased in Georgia. Given concerns about the exposure of children to lead (Pb), the National Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS-2018) included a blood sampling component. The results showed that 41% of the children that participated had blood Pb levels (BLL) ≥ 5 µg/dL and that BLL in children living in Western Georgia were higher than those in Eastern regions. In response to these findings, NCDC implemented written and verbal advice to the families of children who participated in the MICS-2018 on how to reduce Pb exposure. From August 2019 onwards, the state program of clinical follow-up was implemented. The design of this study was a longitudinal study. The intervention of interest was the public health advice and medical follow-up, and the outcome was defined as the difference in BLL between the MICS-2018 survey and the state program follow-up. We observed a significant overall reduction in median BLL between MICS-2018 and state program follow-up in both August 2019 and the latest results (until December 2019). However, we did not observe any significant further reduction between August and the most recent BLL results. In the Georgian setting, written and verbal communication targeting individual households, alongside home visits to the most exposed, effectively reduced BLL in children.

Suggested Citation

  • Ekaterine Ruadze & Giovanni S. Leonardi & Ayoub Saei & Irma Khonelidze & Lela Sturua & Vladimer Getia & Helen Crabbe & Tim Marczylo & Paolo Lauriola & Amiran Gamkrelidze, 2021. "Reduction in Blood Lead Concentration in Children across the Republic of Georgia following Interventions to Address Widespread Exceedance of Reference Value in 2019," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(22), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:22:p:11903-:d:678091
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Moodie, S.M. & Evans, E.L., 2011. "Ethical issues in using children's blood lead levels as a remedial action objective," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 101(SUPPL. 1), pages 156-160.
    2. Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi & Alesia C. Ferguson & Katherine A. Stamatakis & Michael A. Province, 2021. "Combined Effect of Lead Exposure and Allostatic Load on Cardiovascular Disease Mortality—A Preliminary Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-9, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. Giovanni S. Leonardi & Ekaterine Ruadze & Ayoub Saei & Adam Laycock & Simon Chenery & Helen Crabbe & Elizabeth Marchant & Irma Khonelidze & Lela Sturua & Paata Imnadze & Amiran Gamkrelidze & Michael J, 2023. "Identifying Sources of Lead Exposure for Children in the Republic of Georgia, with Lead Isotope Ratios," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(20), pages 1-17, October.

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