Source of lead particles found, NGOs and researches release study conclusion

A group of NGOs and specialists which teamed up in January 2019 have released the results of a study which aimed to determine the source of lead particles in Tbilisi.

The group had taken samples from 268 everyday items from 17 families living in Tbilisi.

Those families were selected for the study, where children turned out to have elevated levels of lead in their blood.

The study detected high concentration of lead in construction materials, everyday items, toys and food.

Spices were polluted with lead, especially saffron,” Guranda Arkopashvili from the Institute of Physics stated.

She said that bullion cubes also included lead.

Arkopashvili stated that samples had been taken from construction materials, family and every-day items, toys, stationery, bedroom items, food and ceramic products.

Many of the samples included lead,” she said.

Recommendations to the government 

• The NGOs urged the government to conduct a larger-scale study and check situation at schools and kindergartens.
• They called upon the Ministry of Finance to closely check stationery, toys and construction materials at the checkpoints as every five item is polluted with lead.
• They stated that the Ministry of Economy should adopt a decree on safe toys in a timely fashion, as well as a technical regalement on heavy metals and lead.

Lead can harm the production of blood cells and bone marrow. It complicates the absorption of calcium needed for strong bones.

Lead damages nerves and cause brain and kidney issues.

The Georgia Alliance for Safe Roads, Green Alternative, Partnership for Road Safety, Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia and Quality Lab were involved in the study.

This initiative was supported by the government of Sweden through the Orbeliani platform.