US EPA Model Lead Inspector Exam 2023/2
f f f f f f
024 Graded A+
f f
LeadfInspectorf-fANSWER-Afcertifiedfindividualfwhofconductsfafsurface-by-
surfacefinvestigationftofdeterminefthefpresencefofflead-basedfpaint.
LeadfRiskfAssessorfJobfDescriptionf-fANSWER-
Determiningfthefexistence,fnature,fseverity,fandflocationfofflead-
basedfpaintfhazardsfinfanfentirefresidentialfdwellingforfchild-
occupiedffacility,fandfprovidesfafwrittenfreportfexplainingfthefresultsfoffthefinvestigationfandf
optionsfforfreducingflead-basedfpaintfhazardsftofthefpersonfrequestingfthefleadfinspection.
ResidentialfLead-BasedfPaintfHazardfReductionfActf-fANSWER-
(TitlefXfoffthefCommunityfDevelopmentfandfHousingfActfoff1992)fTheffederalfgovernmentfb
eganftoffocusfonfprimaryfpreventionfoffleadfpoisoningfthroughfidentifyingfandfreducingfleadf
hazards.
Importancefoffleadfpoisoningfprevention/lead-basedfpaintfinspectionsf-fANSWER-
Focusfattentionfonfthefsourcesfoffleadfthatfcouldfpoisonfchildren;fandfreducefthefcostfoffleadf
hazardfcontrolfbyfidentifyingfwhichfsurfacesfarefcoatedfwithflead-basedfpaint.
Leadfinspectorfjobfdescriptionf-fANSWER-Identifyftheflead-
basedfpaintedfsurfacesfinfhousing,fcertifyfthefresultsfoffanfinspectionfinfwriting,fconductfpost
-
hazardfcontrolfclearancefsamplingftofdetermine:fthefspecifiedfhazardfcontrolfstrategyfwasfc
onducted,fthefareafisfsafefforfunprotectedfworkersftofenter,fandfthefareafisfafsafefplacefforfres
identsfandfyoungfchildrenftoflive.
Howfcommonfisfleadfpollution?f-fANSWER-Lead-
basedfpaintfisfpresentfinfroughlyf83%foffallfhosingfstockfinfthefprivatefsectorfandfinfroughlyf90
%fofffamilyfhousingfunitsfinfthefnation'sfhousingfauthorities.
Lead-basedfpaintf-fANSWER-
Paint,fvarnish,fshellac,forfotherfcoatingfonfsurfacesfthatfcontainf1.0fmg/cm^2forfmorefoffleadf
orf0.5%forfmorefleadfbyfweight.
Lead-basedfpaintfhazardf-fANSWER-Anyfconditionfthatfcausesfexposureftoflead-
contaminatedfdust,flead-contaminated-soil,forflead-
contaminatedfpaintfthatfisfdeterioratedforfpresentfinfaccessiblefsurfaces,ffrictionfsurfaces,for
f impactf surfacesfthatf wouldf resultfinfadversef humanfhealthfeffectsfasf identifiedf byf thef EPAfA
dministratorfunderfTSCAfsectionf403.
Lead-basedfpaintfinspectionf-fANSWER-afsurface-by-
surfacefinvestigationftofdeterminefthefpresencefofflead-
,basedfpaint.fAfreportfisfthenfissuedfthatfidentifiesfifftherefisflead-
basedfpaintfpresentfandfwherefitfisflocated.
Deterioratedfpaintf-fANSWER-
Anyfinteriorforfexteriorfpaintfthatfisfpeeling,fchipping,fchalking,forfcracking,forfisflocatedfonfanf
interiorforfexteriorfsurfacefofffixturefthatfisfdamagedforfdeteriorated.
Accessiblefsurfacef-fANSWER-
Surfacefthatfprotrudesffromfthefsurroundingfareaftofthefextentfthatfafchildfcanfchewfthefsurfa
cefandfisfwithinfthreeffeetforftheffloorforfgroundf(e.g.,fwindowfsills,frailing,fandfthefedgesfoffsta
irftreads)
Frictionfsurfacef-fANSWER-
Anfinteriorforfexteriorfsurfacesfthatfisfsubjectftofabrasionforffrictionf(e.g.,fcertainfwindow,ffloor
,fandfstairfsurfaces)
Impactfsurfacef-fANSWER-
Anfinteriorforfexteriorfsurfacefthatfisfsubjectftofdamageffromfrepeatedfimpactsf(e.g.,fcertainfp
artsfoffdoorfframes)
HUDfGuidelinesf-fANSWER-
ThefprimaryfpurposefoffthefGuidelinesfisftofguidefpeoplefinvolvedfinfidentifyingfandfcontrollin
gflead-basedfpaintfhazardsfinfhousing.
Whatfisflead-basedfpaintf-fANSWER-
1fmilligramfperfsquarefcentimeterf(1.0fmg/cm^2)fusingfthefXRFfanalyzerforf0.5%f(orf5,000fp
artsfperfmillion)fusingflaboratoryfanalysisfmethods
AASf-fANSWER-Atomicfabsorptionfspectrometry
A2LAf-fANSWER-AmericanfAssociationfforfLaboratoryfAccreditation
ASTMf-fANSWER-AmericanfSocietyfforfTestingfandfMaterials
CDCf-fANSWER-Centerfforfdiseasefcontrolfandfprevention
CFRf-fANSWER-Codefofffederalfregulations
ICP-AESf-fANSWER-Inductivelyfcoupledfplasmafatomicfemissionfspectrometry
NIOSHf-fANSWER-NationalfInstitutefforfOccupationalfSafetyfandfHealthf(Dept.foffHealth)
OSHAf-fANSWER-OccupationalfSafetyfandfHealthfAdministrationf(Dept.foffLabor)
Pbf-fANSWER-Thefchemicalfsymbolfforflead
,TSPf-fANSWER-Trisodiumfphosphate
RCRAf-fANSWER-resourcefconservationfandfrecoveryfact
HistoryfoffLeadfUsef-fANSWER-
Nearlyfallfoffthefleadfinfthefhumanfenvironmentfresultsffromfhumanfactivities.fOncefleadfisfmi
ned,fprocessed,fandfintroducedfintofthefhumanfenvironmentfitfisfafpotentialfproblemfforever.f
Nofcurrentftechnologyfwillfdestroyfitforfmakefitfpermanentlyfharmless.fHowever,fexposuresft
ofleadfcanfbefcontrolled.
Thefoccupationalfhazardsfoffleadfwereffirstfreportedfinf1713fbyfBernardofRamazzini,fwhofde
scribedfleadfintoxicationfinfpottersfworkingfwithfleadfglazes.f
Inf1913,fDr.fAlicefHamilton,fanfAmericanfoccupationsfhealthfdoctor,fwrotefaboutfpaintersfan
dfthefhazardsfofftheirfwork.
Whyfwasfleadfusedfinfpaint?f-fANSWER-
Asfafpigment,ftofaddfdurabilityfandfcorrosionfcontrol,fandfasfafdryingfagent.
Sourcesfoffenvironmentalfleadfcontaminationf-fANSWER-
Thefprincipalfindustrialfusefoffleadfisfinfthefmanufacturefoffelectricalfstoragefbatteries.fOtherf
usesfincludefthefproductionfoffammunition,fvariousfchemicals,fandfsinkersfforffishingfandfetc
.
Leadfexposuref-fANSWER-
Thefmajorfexposureftofleadfforfmostfadultsfcomesffromfthefworkfplacef(inhalation).fSurfacefd
ustfandfsoilfcontaminationfwithfleadfarefthefmajorfsourcesfoffleadfexposurefforfinfantsfandfyo
ungfchildrenf(ingestion).f(Children:fdrinkingfwaterf[primarilyffromfleadedfsolder,fbrassffitting
sfandffixtures,fandfserviceflines]fcanfcontributeftofleadfpoisoning)
Leadfpaintf-fANSWER-Thefamountfofflead-basedfpaintfinfhousingfisfsignificantf-
fapproximatelyf64fmillionf (pre-1978)fprivatef U.S.f residencesfcontainfatf leastfsomef lead-
basedfpaint.
Childrenfingestflead-basedfpaintfbyfnormalfhand-to-
mouthfactivity.fYoungfchildrenfabsorbfafsignificantlyfhigherfpercentagefoffingestedfleadfthan
fadults.fLeadfabsorptionf isf increasedfbyfmalnutritionfandfpoorf diet.
Leadfinfsurfacefdustfandfsoilfcanfcomeffrom?f-fANSWER-Weatheringfandfchippingfofflead-
basedfpaint,fscrapingfandfsandingfofflead-
basedfpaintfinfpreparationfforfrefinishing,frenovationsfthatfbreakfsurfacesfpaintedfwithflead-
basedfpaint,fabrasionfand/orfimpactfonfdoorsfandfwindows,fatmosphericffalloutffromfthefco
mbustionfoffleadedfgasolinefthatfwasfdepositedfpriorftofthefphase-
downfinfuse,ffactoryfemissions,fdustfandfdirtfthatfisfcarriedfintofthefhomefonfshoesfandfclothin
gf(especiallyffromffactoriesforfconstructionfsitesforfbyfpets)
, Leadfinfwaterf-fANSWER-Lead-
contaminatedfdrinkingfwaterfalsofcontributesftofthefoverallflevelfoffexposuref-
ffromfasf littlefasf 5fpercentf tofmoref thanf 50fpercentf offaf child'sf totalf leadfexposure.f(NAETIfExa
m:f20%fcontribution)
Leadfinffoodf-fANSWER-
Contaminationffromfcontainersfwithfleadfsolder,fleadfglaze,forfotherfmaterialsfwithflead,fbyfai
rbornefleadffromfindustrialforfautomobilefemissionsfdepositedfonftofcropsforfwater,fbyfuptak
efintoffoodfcropsffromfleadfinfsoilforfpesticidesfapplications,fandfdoingftransportationforfproce
ssing.f
Afphase-outfoffleadfsolderfinfcansfbeganfinftheflatef1970s.
Foodfcontainers:fleadfoxidefisfsometimesfusedftofmanufacturefglazesfforfprotectingfceramic
sfandfetc.
Leadfinfotherfsourcesf-fANSWER-
Vinylfminiblindsfarefanotherfpotentialfsourcefoffleadfinfafresidence.f
CDC,fCPSC,fandfthefpublicfhealthfhavefidentifiedftheffollowing:fcrayonsf(importedffromfChil
e),fpaintedfmetalfplaygroundfequipment,fpoolfcuefchalk,fcalciumfsupplementsf(madeffromfb
oneforfoysterfshell),fsomefhairfdyesf(leadfacetate)
CPSCf-fANSWER-ConsumerfProductfSafetyfCommission
Healthfeffectsfoffleadfexposuref-fANSWER-
Thefthreefsystemsfwherefthefeffectsfarefmostfdangerousfare:fthefcentralfandfperipheralfnerv
ousfsystem.fthefcardiovascularfsystemf(includingfthefbloodfformingfsystem),fandfthefkidney
s.f
Exposureftofhighfconcentrationsfoffleadfcanfcause:fretardation,fconvulsions,fcoma,fandfdea
thf(sometimes)
AcutefvsfChronicfexposuref-fANSWER-acutef-fexposurefforfshortftimefatfhighflevels
chronicf-fexposureftoflowforfmoderateflevelsfoverfaflongfperiodfofftime
INSPECTIONfISfAfCRITICALfFIRSTfSTEPfINfSOLVINGfTHEfLEADfPROBLEMfINfHOMESf
THROUGHOUTfTHEfUNITEDfSTATES.fTHEfPRIMARYfSKILLfFORfLEADfINSPECTORfT
OfDEVELOPfIS?f-fANSWER-Documentationfoffinformation
Leadfbasefpaintfisffoundfmorefoftenfinfprefworldfwarf2fhousingfunitsfthanfthosefbuiltfsincef194
0,althoughfallfhousingfconstructedfpriorftof?fIsfatfriskf-fANSWER-1978
Aldofleadfbasedfpaintfisffoundfasfoftenfandfhomesfoffwellftofdofasfthefpoor,fstudiesfprovefthatf
theflowerfincomeffamiliesfarefproportionatelyfaffected.fThisfapparentfdiscrepancyfmaybefdu
f f f f f f
024 Graded A+
f f
LeadfInspectorf-fANSWER-Afcertifiedfindividualfwhofconductsfafsurface-by-
surfacefinvestigationftofdeterminefthefpresencefofflead-basedfpaint.
LeadfRiskfAssessorfJobfDescriptionf-fANSWER-
Determiningfthefexistence,fnature,fseverity,fandflocationfofflead-
basedfpaintfhazardsfinfanfentirefresidentialfdwellingforfchild-
occupiedffacility,fandfprovidesfafwrittenfreportfexplainingfthefresultsfoffthefinvestigationfandf
optionsfforfreducingflead-basedfpaintfhazardsftofthefpersonfrequestingfthefleadfinspection.
ResidentialfLead-BasedfPaintfHazardfReductionfActf-fANSWER-
(TitlefXfoffthefCommunityfDevelopmentfandfHousingfActfoff1992)fTheffederalfgovernmentfb
eganftoffocusfonfprimaryfpreventionfoffleadfpoisoningfthroughfidentifyingfandfreducingfleadf
hazards.
Importancefoffleadfpoisoningfprevention/lead-basedfpaintfinspectionsf-fANSWER-
Focusfattentionfonfthefsourcesfoffleadfthatfcouldfpoisonfchildren;fandfreducefthefcostfoffleadf
hazardfcontrolfbyfidentifyingfwhichfsurfacesfarefcoatedfwithflead-basedfpaint.
Leadfinspectorfjobfdescriptionf-fANSWER-Identifyftheflead-
basedfpaintedfsurfacesfinfhousing,fcertifyfthefresultsfoffanfinspectionfinfwriting,fconductfpost
-
hazardfcontrolfclearancefsamplingftofdetermine:fthefspecifiedfhazardfcontrolfstrategyfwasfc
onducted,fthefareafisfsafefforfunprotectedfworkersftofenter,fandfthefareafisfafsafefplacefforfres
identsfandfyoungfchildrenftoflive.
Howfcommonfisfleadfpollution?f-fANSWER-Lead-
basedfpaintfisfpresentfinfroughlyf83%foffallfhosingfstockfinfthefprivatefsectorfandfinfroughlyf90
%fofffamilyfhousingfunitsfinfthefnation'sfhousingfauthorities.
Lead-basedfpaintf-fANSWER-
Paint,fvarnish,fshellac,forfotherfcoatingfonfsurfacesfthatfcontainf1.0fmg/cm^2forfmorefoffleadf
orf0.5%forfmorefleadfbyfweight.
Lead-basedfpaintfhazardf-fANSWER-Anyfconditionfthatfcausesfexposureftoflead-
contaminatedfdust,flead-contaminated-soil,forflead-
contaminatedfpaintfthatfisfdeterioratedforfpresentfinfaccessiblefsurfaces,ffrictionfsurfaces,for
f impactf surfacesfthatf wouldf resultfinfadversef humanfhealthfeffectsfasf identifiedf byf thef EPAfA
dministratorfunderfTSCAfsectionf403.
Lead-basedfpaintfinspectionf-fANSWER-afsurface-by-
surfacefinvestigationftofdeterminefthefpresencefofflead-
,basedfpaint.fAfreportfisfthenfissuedfthatfidentifiesfifftherefisflead-
basedfpaintfpresentfandfwherefitfisflocated.
Deterioratedfpaintf-fANSWER-
Anyfinteriorforfexteriorfpaintfthatfisfpeeling,fchipping,fchalking,forfcracking,forfisflocatedfonfanf
interiorforfexteriorfsurfacefofffixturefthatfisfdamagedforfdeteriorated.
Accessiblefsurfacef-fANSWER-
Surfacefthatfprotrudesffromfthefsurroundingfareaftofthefextentfthatfafchildfcanfchewfthefsurfa
cefandfisfwithinfthreeffeetforftheffloorforfgroundf(e.g.,fwindowfsills,frailing,fandfthefedgesfoffsta
irftreads)
Frictionfsurfacef-fANSWER-
Anfinteriorforfexteriorfsurfacesfthatfisfsubjectftofabrasionforffrictionf(e.g.,fcertainfwindow,ffloor
,fandfstairfsurfaces)
Impactfsurfacef-fANSWER-
Anfinteriorforfexteriorfsurfacefthatfisfsubjectftofdamageffromfrepeatedfimpactsf(e.g.,fcertainfp
artsfoffdoorfframes)
HUDfGuidelinesf-fANSWER-
ThefprimaryfpurposefoffthefGuidelinesfisftofguidefpeoplefinvolvedfinfidentifyingfandfcontrollin
gflead-basedfpaintfhazardsfinfhousing.
Whatfisflead-basedfpaintf-fANSWER-
1fmilligramfperfsquarefcentimeterf(1.0fmg/cm^2)fusingfthefXRFfanalyzerforf0.5%f(orf5,000fp
artsfperfmillion)fusingflaboratoryfanalysisfmethods
AASf-fANSWER-Atomicfabsorptionfspectrometry
A2LAf-fANSWER-AmericanfAssociationfforfLaboratoryfAccreditation
ASTMf-fANSWER-AmericanfSocietyfforfTestingfandfMaterials
CDCf-fANSWER-Centerfforfdiseasefcontrolfandfprevention
CFRf-fANSWER-Codefofffederalfregulations
ICP-AESf-fANSWER-Inductivelyfcoupledfplasmafatomicfemissionfspectrometry
NIOSHf-fANSWER-NationalfInstitutefforfOccupationalfSafetyfandfHealthf(Dept.foffHealth)
OSHAf-fANSWER-OccupationalfSafetyfandfHealthfAdministrationf(Dept.foffLabor)
Pbf-fANSWER-Thefchemicalfsymbolfforflead
,TSPf-fANSWER-Trisodiumfphosphate
RCRAf-fANSWER-resourcefconservationfandfrecoveryfact
HistoryfoffLeadfUsef-fANSWER-
Nearlyfallfoffthefleadfinfthefhumanfenvironmentfresultsffromfhumanfactivities.fOncefleadfisfmi
ned,fprocessed,fandfintroducedfintofthefhumanfenvironmentfitfisfafpotentialfproblemfforever.f
Nofcurrentftechnologyfwillfdestroyfitforfmakefitfpermanentlyfharmless.fHowever,fexposuresft
ofleadfcanfbefcontrolled.
Thefoccupationalfhazardsfoffleadfwereffirstfreportedfinf1713fbyfBernardofRamazzini,fwhofde
scribedfleadfintoxicationfinfpottersfworkingfwithfleadfglazes.f
Inf1913,fDr.fAlicefHamilton,fanfAmericanfoccupationsfhealthfdoctor,fwrotefaboutfpaintersfan
dfthefhazardsfofftheirfwork.
Whyfwasfleadfusedfinfpaint?f-fANSWER-
Asfafpigment,ftofaddfdurabilityfandfcorrosionfcontrol,fandfasfafdryingfagent.
Sourcesfoffenvironmentalfleadfcontaminationf-fANSWER-
Thefprincipalfindustrialfusefoffleadfisfinfthefmanufacturefoffelectricalfstoragefbatteries.fOtherf
usesfincludefthefproductionfoffammunition,fvariousfchemicals,fandfsinkersfforffishingfandfetc
.
Leadfexposuref-fANSWER-
Thefmajorfexposureftofleadfforfmostfadultsfcomesffromfthefworkfplacef(inhalation).fSurfacefd
ustfandfsoilfcontaminationfwithfleadfarefthefmajorfsourcesfoffleadfexposurefforfinfantsfandfyo
ungfchildrenf(ingestion).f(Children:fdrinkingfwaterf[primarilyffromfleadedfsolder,fbrassffitting
sfandffixtures,fandfserviceflines]fcanfcontributeftofleadfpoisoning)
Leadfpaintf-fANSWER-Thefamountfofflead-basedfpaintfinfhousingfisfsignificantf-
fapproximatelyf64fmillionf (pre-1978)fprivatef U.S.f residencesfcontainfatf leastfsomef lead-
basedfpaint.
Childrenfingestflead-basedfpaintfbyfnormalfhand-to-
mouthfactivity.fYoungfchildrenfabsorbfafsignificantlyfhigherfpercentagefoffingestedfleadfthan
fadults.fLeadfabsorptionf isf increasedfbyfmalnutritionfandfpoorf diet.
Leadfinfsurfacefdustfandfsoilfcanfcomeffrom?f-fANSWER-Weatheringfandfchippingfofflead-
basedfpaint,fscrapingfandfsandingfofflead-
basedfpaintfinfpreparationfforfrefinishing,frenovationsfthatfbreakfsurfacesfpaintedfwithflead-
basedfpaint,fabrasionfand/orfimpactfonfdoorsfandfwindows,fatmosphericffalloutffromfthefco
mbustionfoffleadedfgasolinefthatfwasfdepositedfpriorftofthefphase-
downfinfuse,ffactoryfemissions,fdustfandfdirtfthatfisfcarriedfintofthefhomefonfshoesfandfclothin
gf(especiallyffromffactoriesforfconstructionfsitesforfbyfpets)
, Leadfinfwaterf-fANSWER-Lead-
contaminatedfdrinkingfwaterfalsofcontributesftofthefoverallflevelfoffexposuref-
ffromfasf littlefasf 5fpercentf tofmoref thanf 50fpercentf offaf child'sf totalf leadfexposure.f(NAETIfExa
m:f20%fcontribution)
Leadfinffoodf-fANSWER-
Contaminationffromfcontainersfwithfleadfsolder,fleadfglaze,forfotherfmaterialsfwithflead,fbyfai
rbornefleadffromfindustrialforfautomobilefemissionsfdepositedfonftofcropsforfwater,fbyfuptak
efintoffoodfcropsffromfleadfinfsoilforfpesticidesfapplications,fandfdoingftransportationforfproce
ssing.f
Afphase-outfoffleadfsolderfinfcansfbeganfinftheflatef1970s.
Foodfcontainers:fleadfoxidefisfsometimesfusedftofmanufacturefglazesfforfprotectingfceramic
sfandfetc.
Leadfinfotherfsourcesf-fANSWER-
Vinylfminiblindsfarefanotherfpotentialfsourcefoffleadfinfafresidence.f
CDC,fCPSC,fandfthefpublicfhealthfhavefidentifiedftheffollowing:fcrayonsf(importedffromfChil
e),fpaintedfmetalfplaygroundfequipment,fpoolfcuefchalk,fcalciumfsupplementsf(madeffromfb
oneforfoysterfshell),fsomefhairfdyesf(leadfacetate)
CPSCf-fANSWER-ConsumerfProductfSafetyfCommission
Healthfeffectsfoffleadfexposuref-fANSWER-
Thefthreefsystemsfwherefthefeffectsfarefmostfdangerousfare:fthefcentralfandfperipheralfnerv
ousfsystem.fthefcardiovascularfsystemf(includingfthefbloodfformingfsystem),fandfthefkidney
s.f
Exposureftofhighfconcentrationsfoffleadfcanfcause:fretardation,fconvulsions,fcoma,fandfdea
thf(sometimes)
AcutefvsfChronicfexposuref-fANSWER-acutef-fexposurefforfshortftimefatfhighflevels
chronicf-fexposureftoflowforfmoderateflevelsfoverfaflongfperiodfofftime
INSPECTIONfISfAfCRITICALfFIRSTfSTEPfINfSOLVINGfTHEfLEADfPROBLEMfINfHOMESf
THROUGHOUTfTHEfUNITEDfSTATES.fTHEfPRIMARYfSKILLfFORfLEADfINSPECTORfT
OfDEVELOPfIS?f-fANSWER-Documentationfoffinformation
Leadfbasefpaintfisffoundfmorefoftenfinfprefworldfwarf2fhousingfunitsfthanfthosefbuiltfsincef194
0,althoughfallfhousingfconstructedfpriorftof?fIsfatfriskf-fANSWER-1978
Aldofleadfbasedfpaintfisffoundfasfoftenfandfhomesfoffwellftofdofasfthefpoor,fstudiesfprovefthatf
theflowerfincomeffamiliesfarefproportionatelyfaffected.fThisfapparentfdiscrepancyfmaybefdu
