Abstract

This article examines how industrial pollution in Georgia manifests as health risks for residents, focusing on Rustavi and Poti. In Rustavi, environmental results and baseline measurements indicate contamination near residential areas, including elevated concentrations of persistent organic pollutants and other hazardous substances, with particular concern for children. In Poti, community-initiated monitoring and biological testing raise concerns about air quality and lead exposure, while institutional responses reveal delays and call into question the study’s representativeness. By tracing how local organisations document harms and press for enforcement, the research highlights tensions between economic development and environmental safeguards. Overall, the findings show that pollution is not only measured in statistics but experienced as ongoing exposure and risk.