KAZALCI OKOLJA

Key message
Neutral

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

Figure ZD34-1: Content of lead (geometric mean) in blood in Slovenia from 2007–2014
Sources:

Horvat et al., 2015

Show data
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
Figure ZD34-2: Content of lead (geometric mean) in urine in Slovenia from 2007–2014
Sources:

Horvat et al., 2015

Show data
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
Figure ZD34-3: Content of lead (geometric mean) in maternal milk in Slovenia from 2007–2014
Sources:

Horvat et al., 2015

Show data
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
Figure ZD34-4: Content of lead (geometric mean) in blood around the world from 1999-2014
Sources:

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

Note:

*only women

Show data
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
Figure ZD34-5: Content of lead (mean) in maternal milk around the world from 1994–2016
Sources:

Horvat et al., 2015; Koyashiki et al., 2010; Lin et al., 2022

Show data
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

Methodology

Date of data source summarization

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