Assessment of blood lead levels in 2–7 year-old children in Poti, Georgia, 2023: A pilot study of environmental lead exposure sources

Lead exposure remains a significant public health concern, particularly for children. This pilot study assessed changes in blood lead levels (BLL) among 2-7-year-old children in Poti, Georgia, between 2018 and 2023. The study aimed to evaluate BLL trends and identify potential environmental sources of lead exposure. Venous blood samples from 63 children were analyzed, and environmental samples-including dust, soil, paint, spices, sugar, and salt-were collected from 50 households. The geometric mean BLL decreased significantly from 7.5 μg/dL (2018) to 2.05 μg/dL (2023). Despite this decline, 20.6 % of children had BLLs above the U.S. reference level of 3.5 μg/dL, highlighting continued exposure risks. Among environmental samples, lead concentrations exceeded reference values in 66.7 % of paint, 43.9 % of soil, and 14.3 % of dust samples. Spice lead concentrations showed a marked decline, with a geometric mean of 4.2 mg/kg in 2018 and 0.25 mg/kg in 2023. This study demonstrates significant progress in reducing lead exposure in children, likely attributable to recent public health initiatives. However, persistent environmental lead sources, particularly in dust and soil necessitate sustained efforts to mitigate exposure. Further nationwide studies are essential to monitor trends, identify hotspots and inform targeted interventions.