[ZD34] Lead exposure and health risk assessment for adult population
Key message
Concentrations of lead in blood, urine and breast milk in Slovenia are relatively low and comparable to data cited in foreign literature. However, due to the proven neurotoxic effects of lead at concentrations lower than 50 µg/L of blood, there is currently no established safe exposure limit. In order to establish and maintain the lowest practically achievable burden of lead exposure for the population, it is reasonable to implement measures in addition to regular monitoring, targeting vulnerable groups such as children and women of reproductive age. Long-term monitoring of Pb levels in biological samples will be possible once regular national-level biomonitoring is established and ensured.
Charts
Horvat et al., 2015
| Slovenia[µg/L] | rural environment[µg/L] | urban environment[µg/L] | potentially contaminated environment[µg/L] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slovenia | 18.32 | no data | no data | no data |
| Kočevje and Cerknica | no data | 18.37 | no data | no data |
| Pomurje | no data | 15.27 | no data | no data |
| Savinjsko-posavska region | no data | 18.17 | no data | no data |
| Ljubljana | no data | no data | 18.50 | no data |
| Maribor | no data | no data | 19.31 | no data |
| Coastal cities | no data | no data | 17.30 | no data |
| Bela krajina | no data | no data | no data | 17.65 |
| Celje | no data | no data | no data | 17.58 |
| Mežica valley | no data | no data | no data | 26.79 |
| Zasavje | no data | no data | no data | 17.59 |
| Jesenice | no data | no data | no data | 19.16 |
| Posočje and Idrija | no data | no data | no data | 15.85 |
Horvat et al., 2015
| Slovenia[µg/g creatinine] | rural environment[µg/g creatinine] | urban environment[µg/g creatinine] | potentially contaminated environment[µg/g creatinine] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slovenia | 0.49 | no data | no data | no data |
| Pomurje | no data | 0.57 | no data | no data |
| Savinjsko-posavska region | no data | 0.43 | no data | no data |
| Maribor | no data | no data | 0.45 | no data |
| Coastal cities | no data | no data | 0.50 | no data |
| Celje | no data | no data | no data | 0.46 |
| Mežica valley | no data | no data | no data | 0.74 |
| Zasavje | no data | no data | no data | 0.39 |
| Jesenice | no data | no data | no data | 0.53 |
| Posočje and Idrija | no data | no data | no data | 0.45 |
Horvat et al., 2015
| Slovenia[µg/L] | rural environment[µg/L] | urban environment[µg/L] | potentially contaminated environment[µg/L] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slovenia | 0.34 | |||
| Kočevje and Cerknica | 1.02 | |||
| Pomurje | 0.25 | |||
| Savinjsko-posavska region | 0.21 | |||
| Ljubljana | 1.02 | |||
| Maribor | 0.25 | |||
| Coastal cities | 0.21 | |||
| Bela krajina | 1.10 | |||
| Celje | 0.25 | |||
| Mežica valley | 0.29 | |||
| Zasavje | 0.18 | |||
| Jesenice | 0.26 | |||
| Posočje and Idrija | 0.13 |
Cañas et al., 2014; CDC, 2022; Choi et al., 2017; Frery et al., 2012; Horvat et al., 2015; Schoeters et al., 2012; The Government of Canada, 2021
*only women
| Content of lead (geometric mean) in blood (µg/L) [µg/L] | |
|---|---|
| Slovenia (2007–2014) | 18.32 |
| Spain (2009–2010) | 24 |
| Belgium* (2007–2011) | 11.10 |
| France (2006–2007) | 25.70 |
| USA (1999–2000) | 16.60 |
| USA (2009–2010) | 11.20 |
| Canada(2012-2013) | 11 |
| Korea(2012-2014) | 19.40 |
Horvat et al., 2015; Koyashiki et al., 2010; Lin et al., 2022
| Content of lead (mean) in maternal milk (µg/L ) [µg/L] | |
|---|---|
| Slovenia (2007–2014) | 0.60 |
| Taiwan (2008–2009) | 13.50 |
| Australia (1999) | 1.60 |
| Greece (2000–2002) | 0.20 |
| Korea (2011–2012) | 8.80 |
| Lebanon (2015–2016) | 18.20 |
| Norway(2002–2009) | 0.20 |
| USA (1997–2000) | 6.10 |
| Brazil (2007) | 2.90 |
| Mexico (1994–1995) | 1.40 |