Excessive amount of lead has been found in nearly 1 out of each 5 samples obtained from families in Tbilisi, – the Alliance for Safe Roads told InterPressNews. According to the organization, a total of 268 samples were obtained from various families in Tbilisi during the period January-March, 2019.

Alliance for Safe Roads says that excessive amount of lead has been found in dust, constructive material, toys, spices, cosmetics, bijouterie and in other items.

“The group of citizens and non-governmental organizations working on identification of lead sources welcomes the statement of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, to plan the preventive measures for monitoring of blood lead levels in children and water quality. The organization confirms the problem of high concentration of lead in the environment. According to the research, conducted by the initiative group and the physicist of the Institute of Physics, excessive amount of lead has been found in nearly 1 out of each 5 samples obtained from families in Tbilisi, the high level of lead has also been found in dust, constructive material, toys, spices, cosmetics, bijouterie and in other items.

The main goal of the research was to reveal the main sources of lead in families and to define the scope of the problem. Within the frameworks of the study, recommendations were made for decision-makers and the detailed presentation will be held on April 2 at Hotel “Iota”,” the organization said.

The “Alliance for Safe Roads”, the “Green Alternative”, the “Partnership for Road Safety”, the “Georgian Research and Development Center”, the “Quality Lab”, active citizens and volunteers working in different organizations were involved in the research. The initiative is supported by the Foundation “Orbeliani Georgia”.

Monitoring of blood lead levels in children and water quality were the main topics discussed at today’s meeting of the Intersectoral Coordination Council held under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister at the Administration of the Government. As the Head of Government pointed out during the meeting, there are regions in Georgia that still face serious environmental challenges. According to Mamuka Bakhtadze, the constituent agencies of the Coordination Council were instructed to study water quality throughout Georgia. As for the monitoring of children’s blood lead levels, the Prime Minister emphasized that it is a serious challenge facing the modern world, which is why defining, planning, and implementing preventive measures is of vital importance.

“I am aware of the numerous measures taken and international projects implemented in this direction. Naturally, we must focus on the recommendations of the World Health Organization, and make use of the best practices accumulated in the countries of the West,” Mamuka Bakhtadze said.

Source : www.interpressnews.ge