Rylander et al. 2025 — Blood lead levels in children aged 5–7, Republic of Georgia
This surveillance study measured blood lead levels (BLL) in 1,635 Georgian children aged 5–7 years using volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS). Approximately 39.8% of children had BLL ≥3.5 µg/dL (the US CDC reference value for the top 2.5th percentile). The study evaluated multiple predictors of BLL including housing characteristics, behavioral factors, and dietary exposures. Spice use emerged as a significant independent predictor: children in households reporting spice use had an odds ratio of 1.47 (approximately) compared to non-spice-using households, a finding consistent with the documented pattern of heavy metal contamination in imported spices. The study contributes to the broader evidence base linking spice consumption as a food-pathway lead exposure route.
Key numbers
n = 1,635 children. Approximately 39.8% had BLL ≥3.5 µg/dL. Spice use predictor: OR ≈ 1.47 (spice use yes vs. no). VAMS blood collection method. Urban/rural sites in Republic of Georgia. Study year: published 2025. Analytical method: blood lead by standard CDC-validated ICP-MS/DRC.
Methods (brief)
Population-based surveillance design. VAMS (volumetric absorptive microsampling) dried blood collection from 1,635 children aged 5–7. Logistic regression for BLL ≥3.5 µg/dL as outcome. Predictor set included housing age, paint exposure, water source, dietary factors (spice use among them), and socioeconomic variables. Environmental Health Perspectives (CC Public Domain per NIH mandate).
Implications
Certification: Spice use as a dietary lead predictor aligns with the broader evidence connecting cinnamon, turmeric, and other ground spices as heavy metal contamination routes; relevant to HMT&C standards for spice-containing products. Courses: Illustrates how food-pathway lead exposure — not just environmental paint/soil — contributes meaningfully to childhood BLL, and why dietary surveillance matters. App: The spice-use OR supports including spice ingredients as a flag in the app’s exposure-risk model for lead in infant/toddler diets.