Doctors do not rule out that painting the walls of schools and kindergartens with lead-containing paints is one of the leading causes of high blood lead levels in children.

Otto-Rhino-Laryngologist Khatuna Chitidze told InterPressNews that the World Health Organization says that the main cause of lead poisoning is exposure to lead-based paint.

“Paints are the number one factor of high blood lead levels, according to the studies, conducted by the World Health Organization.

Paints, which are used for paining our living and working areas, schools, kindergartens where our children and grandchildren are studying. The World Health Organization, together with the environmental organization, fights for the removal of the paints containing lead. It will be very good and important to introduce these regulations in Georgia,” said Khatuna Chitidze.

The doctor explains that the lead causes sensorineural hearing loss and it’s practically impossible to restore the hearing loss caused by a high lead concentration.

According to Khatuna Chitadze, the hearing loss at the early age can affect speech ability. The doctor explains that the cases of sensorineural hearing loss caused by lead have been significantly increased in recent years.

The National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health of Georgia reported last month that according to the recent study, 25% of children in Georgia have slightly elevated blood lead levels, while 16% of children have relevantly high lead levels in their blood.