Working Meeting Held at the Ministry of Health of ZDC on Lead Presence in Blood of Residents of Vareš Municipality

(Patria) - A working meeting was held at the Ministry of Health of Zenica-Doboj Canton between Minister Dr. Aida Salčinović and the director of the Public Institution Cantonal Hospital Zenica Tarik Zulović, acting director of the Health Insurance Institute Ahmed Kasap, director of the Vareš Health Center Dr. Ahmed Memić, and head of the epidemiology and hygiene department at the Public Institution Institute for Health and Food Safety Dr. Alis Kozica.

After an increased concentration of lead in the blood was found in a certain number of residents of the settlements Pržići and Daštansko in the municipality of Vareš, the Ministry of Health scheduled a meeting to discuss the presence of lead in the blood of residents of Vareš municipality and the health protection measures taken.

The director of the Vareš Health Center informed those present about the actions taken, in which an urgent coordination of the Vareš Health Center with all relevant health and inspection authorities was agreed upon to identify potential sources of lead contamination. The municipality of Vareš developed an Action Plan for the health protection of the population, which includes measures for identifying and remediating contamination sources, as well as long-term risk management.

In parallel, the Public Institution Institute for Health and Food Safety conducted an epidemiological survey. Water sampling results showed no presence of lead above reference values, while agricultural crops such as onions, spinach, potatoes, apples, and carrots showed lead presence within permitted limits.
It was agreed to continue with additional analyses including milk from domestic animals, soil and air quality, and sampling of water from taps and private sources in the settlements of Pržići, Tisovci, Daštansko, Miri, and Brezik.

It was concluded that, in accordance with medical standards and professional rules, the Public Institution Cantonal Hospital Zenica will organize internal medicine examinations for patients with elevated lead concentrations in their blood. Based on the internists' findings, patients will be referred for toxicological examinations at the Institute for Occupational Medicine in Sarajevo. The competent inspection authorities will also analyze water from the Mala rijeka stream for additional verification of possible contamination sources.

- The health of our citizens is a priority. The Ministry of Health of ZDC, together with all relevant institutions, will take all necessary measures to identify contamination sources and ensure the protection of the population, said Minister of Health Dr. Aida Salčinović.