Lead exposure of pregnant women and children in Georgia

Microvolume blood sampling for lead analysis

In 2018, UNICEF's MICS survey in Georgia detected alarmingly high blood lead levels in children, especially in the western part of the country. Sources of lead exposure were unknown.

Since 2021, the research group has collaborated with the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health (NCDC) in Georgia to design and implement a national lead surveillance program for children, utilize collected lead data and conduct smaller studies to detect sources of lead exposure.

The following research questions have been, or are currently being covered:

Time-trends of blood lead levels among pregnant women in Adjara, Georgia
Blood lead levels in children 5-7-years old in western Georgia
Associations between blood lead levels and hemoglobin in pregnant women
In-utero lead exposure and newborn birthweight
Spatial distribution of elevated blood lead levels in pregnant women in Adjara
Using mixed-methods to identify sources of lead exposure

Members:

Tinatin Manjavidze

Erik Eik Anda

Charlotta Rylander