Awareness and Knowledge of Lead Poisoning: A Street Survey in Three Municipalities of Georgia

Lead poisoning is a serious public health problem, especially for children. Despite screening programs to reduce lead exposure, there is still a lack of knowledge about its harmful impact. The study aimed to analyze how aware people in Georgia are about lead poisoning and its health effects. In this street survey, 384 adults from three municipalities, Batumi, Ozurgeti, and Zugdidi, were interviewed from March to June 2024. We used descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square test for data analysis. The majority of respondents noted that children are at high risk of lead poisoning. In all selected municipalities, people know that lead can be found in toys, but they do not know it can be found in jewelry and cosmetics, especially in Ozurgeti. Many respondents are not aware that lead poisoning can cause cardiovascular disease, anemia, and kidney failure. More educational campaigns are needed to highlight lead poisoning sources and their effects on health to protect the population.