EPA Lead Inspector Exam
Administrative sanctions - ------------ANS: Result from violations of administrative
code (state laws ... punishments are limited to taking away license/fines)
APF - ------------ANS: Assigned Protection Factor ... level at which a mask protects
the wearer ... WANT a high number
Can you bring an XRF analyzer in a car ... what about a plane? - ------------ANS: -
Cars: Yes ... it must be tied down, you need a manifest, and you must keep it in line
of sight- Planes: Yes IF properly packaged
Chronic vs. acute exposure - ------------ANS: - Chronic: low dose, long period -
Acute: high dose, short period
Civil lawsuits - ------------ANS: - Civil liability is non-criminal (involves
non-governmental entities) - Contract liability arises from breach of contract
Donning/doffing - ------------ANS: Putting on/taking off a respirator
How do you evaluate the quality of XRF testing? - ------------ANS: Compute Retest
Tolerance Limit ... very complicated, so skip this question if on test
How do you treat lead poisoning? - ------------ANS: - 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
How does lead travel through the body and for how long? - ------------ANS: - Blood
(30 days) - Soft tissues (60-90 days) - Bones (20-30 years) ... 95% of lead from an
initial exposure gets stored in bones
, How long after the final cleaning can you collect dust samples? - ------------ANS: 1
hour
How long should an inspector retain records? - ------------ANS: 20 years
How much does water contribute to lead exposure for the average 2-year old? -
------------ANS: 5-50%
How much energy is required for cobalt-57 to excite an electron? - ------------ANS:
128 keV
How much lead can infants on formula receive from water? - ------------ANS: As
much as 85%
How much lead is present in homes? - ------------ANS: - 87% of homes pre-1940 -
69% of homes pre-1960 - 24% of homes pre-1978
How often should you perform a leak test for XRF analyzers? - ------------ANS: Every
6 months
How to perform multi-family testing? - ------------ANS: Read the chart, but important
cutoffs at: - 11 for 1960-1977 - 21 for pre-1960 or unknown - Basically don't need to
test all units
How to prevent lead from getting into tap water? - ------------ANS: Flush until water is
cold
Administrative sanctions - ------------ANS: Result from violations of administrative
code (state laws ... punishments are limited to taking away license/fines)
APF - ------------ANS: Assigned Protection Factor ... level at which a mask protects
the wearer ... WANT a high number
Can you bring an XRF analyzer in a car ... what about a plane? - ------------ANS: -
Cars: Yes ... it must be tied down, you need a manifest, and you must keep it in line
of sight- Planes: Yes IF properly packaged
Chronic vs. acute exposure - ------------ANS: - Chronic: low dose, long period -
Acute: high dose, short period
Civil lawsuits - ------------ANS: - Civil liability is non-criminal (involves
non-governmental entities) - Contract liability arises from breach of contract
Donning/doffing - ------------ANS: Putting on/taking off a respirator
How do you evaluate the quality of XRF testing? - ------------ANS: Compute Retest
Tolerance Limit ... very complicated, so skip this question if on test
How do you treat lead poisoning? - ------------ANS: - 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
How does lead travel through the body and for how long? - ------------ANS: - Blood
(30 days) - Soft tissues (60-90 days) - Bones (20-30 years) ... 95% of lead from an
initial exposure gets stored in bones
, How long after the final cleaning can you collect dust samples? - ------------ANS: 1
hour
How long should an inspector retain records? - ------------ANS: 20 years
How much does water contribute to lead exposure for the average 2-year old? -
------------ANS: 5-50%
How much energy is required for cobalt-57 to excite an electron? - ------------ANS:
128 keV
How much lead can infants on formula receive from water? - ------------ANS: As
much as 85%
How much lead is present in homes? - ------------ANS: - 87% of homes pre-1940 -
69% of homes pre-1960 - 24% of homes pre-1978
How often should you perform a leak test for XRF analyzers? - ------------ANS: Every
6 months
How to perform multi-family testing? - ------------ANS: Read the chart, but important
cutoffs at: - 11 for 1960-1977 - 21 for pre-1960 or unknown - Basically don't need to
test all units
How to prevent lead from getting into tap water? - ------------ANS: Flush until water is
cold
