Ministry Says Lead Level in Gasoline Corresponds to Norms

The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Rural Development on Georgia stated that based on the research of the Environmental Supervision Department, lead level in the petrol corresponds to the established norms.

According to the agency, the staff of the department checked petrol stations operating in Georgia for the purpose of determining the level of the lead in the gasoline.

The inspection took place without warning and over 240 samples were collected across the country.

“The research revealed that in all the samples of the petrol, the lead level corresponds to the norms defined by the Government of Georgia,” the ministry said.

In Georgia, the import of fuel which fails to meet mandatory standards is subject to fines of up to 10,000 GEL, while the sale of such fuel is subject to fines of 8,000 GEL.

Lead is a naturally occurring toxic metal that concentrates in blood and can cause poisoning. It is usually found in food, petrol, construction materials, and industrial paint, and can also be found in toys, furniture, ceramic dishware, and in jewelry containing leaded paint.

Chronic exposure to lead can result in damage to internal organs and the nervous system and can be especially harmful to pregnant women and to the nervous system and brain development of young children.

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), one of the largest household surveys worldwide, was launched in Georgia in September 2018 to check the quality of water and examine the prevalence of lead in the blood of children.

The survey is conducted by the National Statistics Office of Georgia with the technical and financial support of UNICEF and the National Center for Disease Control and Public Health. Financial support to the survey has also been provided by SIDA, USAID, AFD, SDC, UNFPA, UNDP, WHO, the World Bank and the Italian Institute of National Health.