EPA Lead Risk Assessor Exam: Newest Questions &
Answers 2026/2027 Update | Verified Answers with
Rationales
Section 1: Core Definitions & Terminology (Qs 1-15)
1. What is the definition of a Lead Risk Assessment?
A) A surface-by-surface investigation to determine the presence of lead-based paint
B) An on-site investigation of a residential dwelling to determine the existence,
nature, severity, and location of lead-based paint hazards
C) A medical screening program for children with elevated blood lead levels
D) A visual inspection of exterior surfaces only
A risk assessment determines the existence, nature, severity, and location of lead-based
paint hazards in an entire residential dwelling or child-occupied facility, providing a written
report with options for reducing hazards .
2. What is a Lead Inspection?
A) A surface-by-surface investigation to determine the presence of lead-based
paint
B) An on-site investigation to identify lead hazards
C) A blood lead screening program
D) An assessment of soil contamination only
An inspection is a surface-by-surface investigation for determining the presence of lead-
based paint (and in some cases, sampling for lead in dust and soil) and a report of the
results .
3. Which of the following is the correct definition of a Lead-Based Paint Hazard?
A) Any paint containing any amount of lead
, B) Any condition that causes exposure to lead from lead-contaminated dust,
soil, deteriorated lead-based paint, or from lead-based paint on accessible,
friction, or impact surfaces
C) Paint with lead content above 0.009% by weight
D) Only paint that is visibly peeling or chipping
A lead-based paint hazard is any condition that causes exposure to lead from contaminated
dust, soil, deteriorated paint, or paint on accessible/friction/impact surfaces that would result
in adverse health effects .
4. What is the definition of Primary Prevention in lead poisoning?
A) Blood lead screening programs to identify children with elevated levels
B) Risk assessments and abatement/interim controls in housing before
children are lead poisoned
C) Medical treatment to prevent death from lead poisoning
D) Chelation therapy for children with high blood lead levels
Primary prevention involves identifying and controlling lead hazards before children are
exposed and poisoned. This is the national strategy established by Title X (1992) .
5. Secondary Prevention refers to:
A) Risk assessments before children are exposed
B) Blood lead screening programs to identify children who already have
elevated blood lead levels
C) Medical treatment to prevent death
D) Abatement of all lead-based paint in housing
Secondary prevention identifies children who already have elevated blood lead levels
(EBLL) through screening programs, allowing for intervention after exposure has occurred .
6. Tertiary Prevention involves:
A) Preventing exposure before it occurs
B) Blood lead screening
, C) Medical treatment/management of children to prevent acute injuries or
death from lead poisoning
D) Visual assessments of housing
Tertiary prevention focuses on medical treatment and management of children who already
have lead poisoning to prevent acute injuries or death .
7. What does the acronym EBL stand for?
A) Environmental Baseline Level
B) Elevated Blood Level
C) Exposure Based Limit
D) Encapsulation Barrier Layer
EBL stands for Elevated Blood Level, referring to children with blood lead levels above the
CDC reference level .
8. Lead-Based Paint is defined by EPA/HUD as:
A) Any paint containing any detectable lead
B) Paint with lead content above 0.009% by weight
C) Paint containing 1.0 mg/cm² (XRF) or 0.5% lead by weight (lab analysis)
D) Paint containing 5,000 ppm lead by weight only
* Lead-based paint is defined as 1.0 mg/cm² by XRF analysis OR 0.5% lead by weight
(5,000 ppm) by laboratory analysis .*
9. CPSC sets the maximum allowable lead content in new residential paint at:
A) 0.5% (5,000 ppm)
B) 0.06% (600 ppm)
C) 0.009% (90 ppm)
D) 0.1% (1,000 ppm)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned lead in residential paint in
1978. Current allowable lead content is 90 ppm (0.009%) .
10. Target Housing is defined as:
Answers 2026/2027 Update | Verified Answers with
Rationales
Section 1: Core Definitions & Terminology (Qs 1-15)
1. What is the definition of a Lead Risk Assessment?
A) A surface-by-surface investigation to determine the presence of lead-based paint
B) An on-site investigation of a residential dwelling to determine the existence,
nature, severity, and location of lead-based paint hazards
C) A medical screening program for children with elevated blood lead levels
D) A visual inspection of exterior surfaces only
A risk assessment determines the existence, nature, severity, and location of lead-based
paint hazards in an entire residential dwelling or child-occupied facility, providing a written
report with options for reducing hazards .
2. What is a Lead Inspection?
A) A surface-by-surface investigation to determine the presence of lead-based
paint
B) An on-site investigation to identify lead hazards
C) A blood lead screening program
D) An assessment of soil contamination only
An inspection is a surface-by-surface investigation for determining the presence of lead-
based paint (and in some cases, sampling for lead in dust and soil) and a report of the
results .
3. Which of the following is the correct definition of a Lead-Based Paint Hazard?
A) Any paint containing any amount of lead
, B) Any condition that causes exposure to lead from lead-contaminated dust,
soil, deteriorated lead-based paint, or from lead-based paint on accessible,
friction, or impact surfaces
C) Paint with lead content above 0.009% by weight
D) Only paint that is visibly peeling or chipping
A lead-based paint hazard is any condition that causes exposure to lead from contaminated
dust, soil, deteriorated paint, or paint on accessible/friction/impact surfaces that would result
in adverse health effects .
4. What is the definition of Primary Prevention in lead poisoning?
A) Blood lead screening programs to identify children with elevated levels
B) Risk assessments and abatement/interim controls in housing before
children are lead poisoned
C) Medical treatment to prevent death from lead poisoning
D) Chelation therapy for children with high blood lead levels
Primary prevention involves identifying and controlling lead hazards before children are
exposed and poisoned. This is the national strategy established by Title X (1992) .
5. Secondary Prevention refers to:
A) Risk assessments before children are exposed
B) Blood lead screening programs to identify children who already have
elevated blood lead levels
C) Medical treatment to prevent death
D) Abatement of all lead-based paint in housing
Secondary prevention identifies children who already have elevated blood lead levels
(EBLL) through screening programs, allowing for intervention after exposure has occurred .
6. Tertiary Prevention involves:
A) Preventing exposure before it occurs
B) Blood lead screening
, C) Medical treatment/management of children to prevent acute injuries or
death from lead poisoning
D) Visual assessments of housing
Tertiary prevention focuses on medical treatment and management of children who already
have lead poisoning to prevent acute injuries or death .
7. What does the acronym EBL stand for?
A) Environmental Baseline Level
B) Elevated Blood Level
C) Exposure Based Limit
D) Encapsulation Barrier Layer
EBL stands for Elevated Blood Level, referring to children with blood lead levels above the
CDC reference level .
8. Lead-Based Paint is defined by EPA/HUD as:
A) Any paint containing any detectable lead
B) Paint with lead content above 0.009% by weight
C) Paint containing 1.0 mg/cm² (XRF) or 0.5% lead by weight (lab analysis)
D) Paint containing 5,000 ppm lead by weight only
* Lead-based paint is defined as 1.0 mg/cm² by XRF analysis OR 0.5% lead by weight
(5,000 ppm) by laboratory analysis .*
9. CPSC sets the maximum allowable lead content in new residential paint at:
A) 0.5% (5,000 ppm)
B) 0.06% (600 ppm)
C) 0.009% (90 ppm)
D) 0.1% (1,000 ppm)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) banned lead in residential paint in
1978. Current allowable lead content is 90 ppm (0.009%) .
10. Target Housing is defined as:
