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Forsyth JE, Akhalaia K, Jintcharadze M, Nash E, Sharov P, Temnikova A, Elmera C. Reductions in spice lead levels in the republic of Georgia: 2020-2022. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 250:118504. [PMID: 38367836 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Spice adulteration using yellow lead chromate-based pigments has been documented as a growing global health concern. Spices from the Republic of Georgia with extremely high levels of lead, up to an order of magnitude higher than any other spices worldwide, have been implicated as sources of child lead poisoning. The objectives of this study were to 1) evaluate lead concentrations in spices sampled across the country of Georgia between 2020 and 2022, and 2) assess factors associated with spice adulteration, specifically the role of spice quality and regulatory enforcement. Spice samples were collected from 29 cities nationwide. The most populous cities were selected in each administrative region as well as those of importance to the spice supply chain. Sampling was carried out at the largest spice bazaars in each city. The regions of Adjara and Imereti were the focus of qualitative interviews conducted in 2021 with key businesspeople selling spices with very high and low levels of lead. The same cities and bazaars were visited at each of three sampling periods between 2020 and 2022. In total, 765 spice samples were collected. Lead concentrations in spices decreased over time, with a maximum of 14,233 μg/g in 2020 down to 36 μg/g in the final sampling round of 2022. A logistic regression determined that sampling round, region and spice type were associated with elevated lead in samples. Samples from Adjara and those containing marigold had the highest lead levels. Interviews with eighteen prominent spice vendors revealed difficulties sourcing sufficient quantities of high quality, brightly colored marigold, and concerns about adulteration. Interviews with two authorities from the National Food Authority highlighted the increased attention on regulating lead in spices since 2018. Continued monitoring and periodic regulatory enforcement may adequately disincentivize further adulteration with lead chromate in the spice industry in Georgia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E Forsyth
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford King Center on Global Development, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | | | | | | | - Petr Sharov
- Environmental Health and Pollution Management Institute, Tblisi, Georgia
| | - Alena Temnikova
- Environmental Health and Pollution Management Institute, Tblisi, Georgia
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Leonardi GS, Ruadze E, Saei A, Laycock A, Chenery S, Crabbe H, Marchant E, Khonelidze I, Sturua L, Imnadze P, Gamkrelidze A, Watts MJ, Marczylo T. Identifying Sources of Lead Exposure for Children in the Republic of Georgia, with Lead Isotope Ratios. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:6912. [PMID: 37887650 PMCID: PMC10606333 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20206912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
In the Republic of Georgia, a 2018 national survey estimated that more than 40% of children aged 2-7 years had a blood lead concentration (BLC) of more than 5 µg/dL. The objective of this study was to document the feasibility of employing lead isotope ratios (LIRs) to identify and rank the Pb (lead) exposure sources most relevant to children across Georgia. A cross-sectional survey between November 2019 and February 2020 of 36 children previously identified as having BLCs > 5 µg/dL from seven regions of Georgia involved the collection of blood and 528 environmental samples, a questionnaire on behaviours and potential exposures. The LIRs in blood and environmental samples were analysed in individual children and across the whole group to ascertain clustering. A fitted statistical mixed-effect model to LIR data first found that the blood samples clustered with spices, tea, and paint, then, further isotopically distinct from blood were sand, dust, and soil, and lastly, milk, toys, pens, flour, and water. Analysis of the LIRs provided an indication and ranking of the importance of Pb environmental sources as explanatory factors of BLCs across the group of children. The findings support the deployment of interventions aimed at managing the priority sources of exposure in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni S. Leonardi
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
- Department of Social and Environmental Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Ekaterine Ruadze
- Faculty of Medicine, Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 1 Chavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia; (E.R.)
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia (L.S.)
| | - Ayoub Saei
- UK Health Security Agency, Statistics Unit, Department of Statistics, Modelling and Economics, London NW9 5EQ, UK;
| | - Adam Laycock
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
| | - Simon Chenery
- British Geological Survey, Kingsley Durham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK (M.J.W.)
| | - Helen Crabbe
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
| | - Elizabeth Marchant
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
- UK Health Security Agency, Field Epidemiology Training Programme, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Irma Khonelidze
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia (L.S.)
| | - Lela Sturua
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia (L.S.)
| | - Paata Imnadze
- Faculty of Medicine, Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, 1 Chavchavadze Avenue, Tbilisi 0179, Georgia; (E.R.)
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia (L.S.)
| | - Amiran Gamkrelidze
- University of Georgia (UG), 77a M. Kostava Street, Tbilisi 0171, Georgia;
| | - Michael J. Watts
- British Geological Survey, Kingsley Durham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK (M.J.W.)
| | - Tim Marczylo
- UK Health Security Agency, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Harwell Campus, Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK; (A.L.); (H.C.); (T.M.)
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Laycock A, Chenery S, Marchant E, Crabbe H, Saei A, Ruadze E, Watts M, Leonardi GS, Marczylo T. The Use of Pb Isotope Ratios to Determine Environmental Sources of High Blood Pb Concentrations in Children: A Feasibility Study in Georgia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15007. [PMID: 36429725 PMCID: PMC9690981 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The incidence of lead (Pb) poisoning in children in Georgia has been identified as a major health concern, with a recent national survey identifying that 41% of children aged 2-7 years had blood lead concentrations (BLCs) greater than the blood lead reference value (BLRV) of ≥5 µg dL-1. This study collected samples of blood, spices, paint, soil, dust, flour, tea, toys, milk, and water from 36 households in Georgia where a child had previously been identified as having a BLC > BLRV. The Pb concentrations of these samples were determined and compared to Georgian reference values. Samples from 3 households were analysed for their Pb isotope composition. The Pb isotope composition of the environmental and blood samples were compared to identify the most likely source(s) of Pb exposure. This approach identified that some spice and dust samples were the likely sources of Pb in the blood in these cases. Importantly, some soil, paint, and dust sources with high Pb concentrations could be discounted as contributing to blood Pb based on their distinct isotope composition. The data presented demonstrate the significant contribution that Pb surveillance and Pb isotope ratio analyses can make to managing Pb exposure in regions where high BLCs are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Laycock
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Simon Chenery
- British Geological Survey, Kingsley Durham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Elizabeth Marchant
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Helen Crabbe
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Ayoub Saei
- UK Health Security Agency, Colindale, London NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Ekaterine Ruadze
- The National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, #99 Kakheti Highway, Tbilisi 0198, Georgia
| | - Michael Watts
- British Geological Survey, Kingsley Durham Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK
| | - Giovanni S. Leonardi
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, UK
| | - Tim Marczylo
- UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK
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