EPA Lead Inspector Exam Study Guide 2023 Questions
and Answers (Verified Answers)
Lead-based paint (LBP)
Any varnish, shallac, or coating that contains either- 1.0 mg/cm2 - 0.5 % by weight -
5000 ppm - Older instruments could not read accurately at 0.7, so the lead standard
was updated to 1.0
Dust sample clearance values
- Floors: 40 μg/ft2 > 10 μg/ft2 (10 μg/ft2 in NY) - Windows: 250 μg/ft2 > 100 μg/ft2 (50
μg/ft2 in NY) - Window wells (troughs): 400 μg/ft2 (100 μg/ft2 in NY) - Samples must be
at 1 sq ft > 2 sq ft (can be reduced to 1 sq ft if within 10 μg)
EPA Soil Regulations
- 400 ppm for playgrounds/children's areas - 1200 ppm for rest of yard - There must be
9 sq ft of soil to classify with soil testing - At 5000 ppm, MUST remediate/abate (remove
& replace, paving, or bioremediation)
Lab sampling technique
- AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) - Sample is placed into a furnace and
vaporized ... light is shone through to give a quantitative result
XRF
- X-ray fluorescence - Utilizes radioactive isotopes (unstable material trying to reach
stability) - Cobalt-57 (half-life of 9 months) and cadmium-109 (half-life of 15 months) are
the two sources (where radiation originates) - Emits gamma rays but will read X-rays
(backscatters) - Ionizing radiation from the removal of electrons due to interactions with
radiation
LBP Hazard
ANY condition that causes exposure to lead
LBP inspection
a surface-by-surface investigation to determine the presence of lead
CPSC
- Consumer Product Safety Commission - Set a lead paint standard: cannot contain
0.06% lead by weight ... updated to 0.009% - The commission banned lead-based paint
in 1978
True/False: Dust sampling only done for hazard assessments
True; only risk assessors take samples to determine likelihood of coming into contact
with contaminants
What kind of sampling must be done for inspections?
Random ... repeats must be annotated then you move onto the next
HUD Guidelines for abatement
Must last 20 years. Includes the following procedures: - Removal - Enclosure -
Replacement - Encapsulation Painting over is a temporary fix!
Water standards for lead
- 15 ppb under the Clean Water Act (CWA) - 5 ppb under the FDA standard (bottled
water) *These are the ONLY instances where ppb is used
Why was lead used so much?
- Durable - Colorful - Anti-corrosive - Anti-fungal - Drying agent
, What does RRP do?
- Renovation, Repairing, and Painting program - Provided enforcement to Title X in
2010 ... $37,500 fines for violation - Dust sampling technicians can only sample for RRP
projects
What must you do if a pre-1978 site is not tested?
Presume lead-based paint.
Where is LBP still allowed?
Commercial purposes/boats
What are the major industrial uses of lead?
Present - Electrical batteries - Chemical additives Past - Paint additive - Gasoline
additive (now in soil ... doesn't permeate quickly, so sample TOP portions (12 in)) -
Solder/pipes
What are the common pathways of contamination?
- For children under 6, hand-to-mouth contact from DUST ... lead tastes sweet (pica is
the term for consumption of non-food items) - For adults, occupational exposure (take-
home lead ... pets can contribute too)
Chronic vs. acute exposure
- Chronic: low dose, long period - Acute: high dose, short period
How do you treat lead poisoning?
- Chelation therapy - Binding agents attach to lead in the blood, allowing it to be
excreted - Chelating agents cannot distinguish lead from minerals, so the therapy
causes demineralization - Done at a blood lead of 45 μg/dL
Where does lead contamination in water come from?
Solder, brass fittings and fixtures, and service lines
How much lead is present in homes?
- 87% of homes pre-1940 - 69% of homes pre-1960 - 24% of homes pre-1978
Who is responsible for investigating lead poisoning?
- Departments of Health (DOH) - They can mandate abatement
T/F: Poor diet can exacerbate lead absorption
True. You want high calcium, iron, and Vitamin C.
True/False: The association between lead dust and blood level has been scientifically
proven
True
Where does a house have the highest lead levels with respect to soil sampling?
Dripline
What are friction, impact, and mallable surfaces?
- Friction: rub (floors) - Impact: smash (doors, stairs) - Mallable: edible ... protrude more
than 4 in
What is the chance of lead dust from high levels of LBP?
Twice as high
How much does water contribute to lead exposure for the average 2-year old?
5-50%
How much lead can infants on formula receive from water?
As much as 85%
True/False: Lead has a purpose in the body
False; lead does nothing for the body
and Answers (Verified Answers)
Lead-based paint (LBP)
Any varnish, shallac, or coating that contains either- 1.0 mg/cm2 - 0.5 % by weight -
5000 ppm - Older instruments could not read accurately at 0.7, so the lead standard
was updated to 1.0
Dust sample clearance values
- Floors: 40 μg/ft2 > 10 μg/ft2 (10 μg/ft2 in NY) - Windows: 250 μg/ft2 > 100 μg/ft2 (50
μg/ft2 in NY) - Window wells (troughs): 400 μg/ft2 (100 μg/ft2 in NY) - Samples must be
at 1 sq ft > 2 sq ft (can be reduced to 1 sq ft if within 10 μg)
EPA Soil Regulations
- 400 ppm for playgrounds/children's areas - 1200 ppm for rest of yard - There must be
9 sq ft of soil to classify with soil testing - At 5000 ppm, MUST remediate/abate (remove
& replace, paving, or bioremediation)
Lab sampling technique
- AAS (Atomic Absorption Spectrometry) - Sample is placed into a furnace and
vaporized ... light is shone through to give a quantitative result
XRF
- X-ray fluorescence - Utilizes radioactive isotopes (unstable material trying to reach
stability) - Cobalt-57 (half-life of 9 months) and cadmium-109 (half-life of 15 months) are
the two sources (where radiation originates) - Emits gamma rays but will read X-rays
(backscatters) - Ionizing radiation from the removal of electrons due to interactions with
radiation
LBP Hazard
ANY condition that causes exposure to lead
LBP inspection
a surface-by-surface investigation to determine the presence of lead
CPSC
- Consumer Product Safety Commission - Set a lead paint standard: cannot contain
0.06% lead by weight ... updated to 0.009% - The commission banned lead-based paint
in 1978
True/False: Dust sampling only done for hazard assessments
True; only risk assessors take samples to determine likelihood of coming into contact
with contaminants
What kind of sampling must be done for inspections?
Random ... repeats must be annotated then you move onto the next
HUD Guidelines for abatement
Must last 20 years. Includes the following procedures: - Removal - Enclosure -
Replacement - Encapsulation Painting over is a temporary fix!
Water standards for lead
- 15 ppb under the Clean Water Act (CWA) - 5 ppb under the FDA standard (bottled
water) *These are the ONLY instances where ppb is used
Why was lead used so much?
- Durable - Colorful - Anti-corrosive - Anti-fungal - Drying agent
, What does RRP do?
- Renovation, Repairing, and Painting program - Provided enforcement to Title X in
2010 ... $37,500 fines for violation - Dust sampling technicians can only sample for RRP
projects
What must you do if a pre-1978 site is not tested?
Presume lead-based paint.
Where is LBP still allowed?
Commercial purposes/boats
What are the major industrial uses of lead?
Present - Electrical batteries - Chemical additives Past - Paint additive - Gasoline
additive (now in soil ... doesn't permeate quickly, so sample TOP portions (12 in)) -
Solder/pipes
What are the common pathways of contamination?
- For children under 6, hand-to-mouth contact from DUST ... lead tastes sweet (pica is
the term for consumption of non-food items) - For adults, occupational exposure (take-
home lead ... pets can contribute too)
Chronic vs. acute exposure
- Chronic: low dose, long period - Acute: high dose, short period
How do you treat lead poisoning?
- Chelation therapy - Binding agents attach to lead in the blood, allowing it to be
excreted - Chelating agents cannot distinguish lead from minerals, so the therapy
causes demineralization - Done at a blood lead of 45 μg/dL
Where does lead contamination in water come from?
Solder, brass fittings and fixtures, and service lines
How much lead is present in homes?
- 87% of homes pre-1940 - 69% of homes pre-1960 - 24% of homes pre-1978
Who is responsible for investigating lead poisoning?
- Departments of Health (DOH) - They can mandate abatement
T/F: Poor diet can exacerbate lead absorption
True. You want high calcium, iron, and Vitamin C.
True/False: The association between lead dust and blood level has been scientifically
proven
True
Where does a house have the highest lead levels with respect to soil sampling?
Dripline
What are friction, impact, and mallable surfaces?
- Friction: rub (floors) - Impact: smash (doors, stairs) - Mallable: edible ... protrude more
than 4 in
What is the chance of lead dust from high levels of LBP?
Twice as high
How much does water contribute to lead exposure for the average 2-year old?
5-50%
How much lead can infants on formula receive from water?
As much as 85%
True/False: Lead has a purpose in the body
False; lead does nothing for the body
