The Use of Pb Isotope Ratios to Determine Environmental Sources of High Blood Pb Concentrations in Children: A Feasibility Study in Georgia

Adam Laycock (), Simon Chenery, Elizabeth Marchant, Helen Crabbe, Ayoub Saei, Ekaterine Ruadze, Michael Watts, Giovanni S. Leonardi and Tim Marczylo
Additional contact information
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
Tim Marczylo: UK Health Security Agency, Chemical, Radiation and Environmental Hazards Directorate, Harwell Campus, Chilton OX11 0RQ, UK

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 22, 1-18

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.

Keywords: lead isotope ratio; blood lead concentration; environmental tracing; children; Georgia; lead surveillance; spices; dust; paint; soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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