Vareš authorities report decrease in blood lead levels

The Municipality of Vareš and the Vareš Health Center have issued a joint statement regarding recent reports of lead in the blood of local residents. They clarified that recent public discussions refer to previous testing phases rather than new findings, noting that re-testing conducted in July showed a decrease in lead concentrations for a significant number of individuals.

Through multiple testing phases ending in February 2026, a total of 238 blood samples were analyzed. Health officials emphasized that the number of samples does not equal the number of unique individuals tested, as the process involved repeated testing of the same people. No signs of acute lead poisoning or clinical intoxication were recorded among the subjects.

Investigations into potential exposure routes—including water, food, air, and soil—have been ongoing. Previous results indicated that drinking water and milk were not sources of contamination at the time of sampling. Most fruit and vegetable samples were found to be healthy, and air and surface water measurements were normal. While soil analysis requires further professional processing, authorities have not yet identified a specific source of lead or a causal link to any industrial activity.