EPA LEAD INSPECTOR
TESTED QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Question 1.
What are the "blood lead reference levels" of concern?
ANSWER
CDC monitors "blood lead reference level" for children
In 2021, BLRL was lowered to 3.5 µg/dL for children
- OSHA's level of concern for adults is 40 µg/dL, medical removal level is 50 µg/dL
Question 2.
What is a PCS?
ANSWER
PCS or performance characteristic sheet, provides detailed information regarding XRF readings
taken on a specific substrates, calibration check tolerances, and information describing the
performance of each instrument for specific models of XRFS.
Question 3.
Soil
ANSWER
soil sampling is mandatory for risk assessment
- Childs play area: 400 ppm
- all other areas 1,200 ppm
Question 4.
Apron
ANSWER
Wood facing below the sill on windows, in the corner formed at the wall surface
,Question 5.
In order to determine how many units to be tested in buildings pre-1960 or unknown age, what should
be calculated?
ANSWER
For pre-1960 or unknown-age buildings or developments with 1,040 or more similar units,
common areas, or exterior sites, test 5.8% of them and round to the next whole number.
Question 6.
How should one go about finding the retest tolerance limit?
ANSWER
1. Make a list of the initial 10 XRF readings and next to it put a column next to it for the 10
retest readings
2. Create a column where averages are calculated between initial and retest result for each row
3. Square all the averages then add all 10 squared averages together (Quantity C) and multiply
this by 0.0072 to get Quantity
D. Take Quantity D and add 0.032 to get Quantity E. Now take the square root of this number to
get Quantity F. Multiply Quantity F by 1.645 to get the RETEST TOLERENCE LIMIT.
Question 7.
Air
ANSWER
worker exposure to airborne lead is monitored by OSHA and NIOSH
- Action level for airborne lead is 30 µg/m^3 for an 8 hour shift.
- PEL is 50 µg/m^3
,Question 8.
What is an interim control?
ANSWER
A set of measures designed to temporarily reduce human exposure or possible exposure to
lead-based paint hazards. Such measures include, but are not limited to, specialized cleaning,
repairs, maintenance, painting, temporary containment, and the establishment and operation
of management and resident education programs.
Monitoring, conducted by owners, and reevaluations, conducted by professionals, are integral
elements of interim control. Interim controls include dust removal; paint film stabilization;
treatment of friction and impact surfaces; installation of soil coverings, such as grass or sod;
and land use controls
Question 9.
Research conducted by the national institute of standards and technology
(NIST) and HUD demonstrates that all XRF instruments exhibit substrate biases that depend upon...
ANSWER
1. the instrument used
2. the nature of the substrate
3. The level of lead in the paint
4. possible other factors such as source age, temperature and humidity
Question 10.
Vacuum/wet cleaning/vacuum cycle
ANSWER
The cleaning cycle that begins with HEPA vacuuming, followed by a wet cleaning with a
detergent, followed by a final pass with a HEPA vacuum over the surface.
Question 11.
Objects
ANSWER
Level of lead in objects monitored by the consumer product safety commission. 90 ppm or
0.009% by weight
, Question 12.
How would you define an acute effect of lead exposure?
ANSWER
severe or immediate reaction, usually to a single large exposure.
Question 13.
What are the rules you must follow when doing composite dust wipe sampling?
ANSWER
1. Separate composite samples are required from carpeted and hard surfaces. Collection from
hard floors is preferred over carpets.
2. Separate composite samples are required from each different component sampled
3. Separate composite samples are required for each dwelling
4. Floor surface areas sampled in each room should be approximately the same size (1ft^2 or
929 cm^2)
5. DO not use the same wipe to sample two different spots. Always use a new wipe for each
spot sampled.
6. DO NOT insert more than 4 different wipes into a single container for a composite sample.
Acceptable recovery rates (80-120% of the true value) have been found when no more than 4
wipes are analyzed as a single sample.
7. If composite samples are collected, composite blank and spiked (control) QA/QC samples
should also be submitted for analysis..
Question 14.
What information do spectrum analyzers display?
ANSWER
They produce a graph called an energy spectrum to help resolve discrepancies in the readings
due to interference from substrate materials below the paint. The spectrum analyzers display
information from the entire energy spectrum, making it more sophisticated.
Question 15.
What is ionized radiation exposure measured in?
ANSWER
The quantity of ionizing radiation exposure is measured in roentgens. The units of dosage are
measured in roentgen equivalent man (rem) or one-one thousandths of a rem ( mrem or
millirem) The higher the dosage the greater the potential for adverse health effects.
TESTED QUESTIONS AND COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
Question 1.
What are the "blood lead reference levels" of concern?
ANSWER
CDC monitors "blood lead reference level" for children
In 2021, BLRL was lowered to 3.5 µg/dL for children
- OSHA's level of concern for adults is 40 µg/dL, medical removal level is 50 µg/dL
Question 2.
What is a PCS?
ANSWER
PCS or performance characteristic sheet, provides detailed information regarding XRF readings
taken on a specific substrates, calibration check tolerances, and information describing the
performance of each instrument for specific models of XRFS.
Question 3.
Soil
ANSWER
soil sampling is mandatory for risk assessment
- Childs play area: 400 ppm
- all other areas 1,200 ppm
Question 4.
Apron
ANSWER
Wood facing below the sill on windows, in the corner formed at the wall surface
,Question 5.
In order to determine how many units to be tested in buildings pre-1960 or unknown age, what should
be calculated?
ANSWER
For pre-1960 or unknown-age buildings or developments with 1,040 or more similar units,
common areas, or exterior sites, test 5.8% of them and round to the next whole number.
Question 6.
How should one go about finding the retest tolerance limit?
ANSWER
1. Make a list of the initial 10 XRF readings and next to it put a column next to it for the 10
retest readings
2. Create a column where averages are calculated between initial and retest result for each row
3. Square all the averages then add all 10 squared averages together (Quantity C) and multiply
this by 0.0072 to get Quantity
D. Take Quantity D and add 0.032 to get Quantity E. Now take the square root of this number to
get Quantity F. Multiply Quantity F by 1.645 to get the RETEST TOLERENCE LIMIT.
Question 7.
Air
ANSWER
worker exposure to airborne lead is monitored by OSHA and NIOSH
- Action level for airborne lead is 30 µg/m^3 for an 8 hour shift.
- PEL is 50 µg/m^3
,Question 8.
What is an interim control?
ANSWER
A set of measures designed to temporarily reduce human exposure or possible exposure to
lead-based paint hazards. Such measures include, but are not limited to, specialized cleaning,
repairs, maintenance, painting, temporary containment, and the establishment and operation
of management and resident education programs.
Monitoring, conducted by owners, and reevaluations, conducted by professionals, are integral
elements of interim control. Interim controls include dust removal; paint film stabilization;
treatment of friction and impact surfaces; installation of soil coverings, such as grass or sod;
and land use controls
Question 9.
Research conducted by the national institute of standards and technology
(NIST) and HUD demonstrates that all XRF instruments exhibit substrate biases that depend upon...
ANSWER
1. the instrument used
2. the nature of the substrate
3. The level of lead in the paint
4. possible other factors such as source age, temperature and humidity
Question 10.
Vacuum/wet cleaning/vacuum cycle
ANSWER
The cleaning cycle that begins with HEPA vacuuming, followed by a wet cleaning with a
detergent, followed by a final pass with a HEPA vacuum over the surface.
Question 11.
Objects
ANSWER
Level of lead in objects monitored by the consumer product safety commission. 90 ppm or
0.009% by weight
, Question 12.
How would you define an acute effect of lead exposure?
ANSWER
severe or immediate reaction, usually to a single large exposure.
Question 13.
What are the rules you must follow when doing composite dust wipe sampling?
ANSWER
1. Separate composite samples are required from carpeted and hard surfaces. Collection from
hard floors is preferred over carpets.
2. Separate composite samples are required from each different component sampled
3. Separate composite samples are required for each dwelling
4. Floor surface areas sampled in each room should be approximately the same size (1ft^2 or
929 cm^2)
5. DO not use the same wipe to sample two different spots. Always use a new wipe for each
spot sampled.
6. DO NOT insert more than 4 different wipes into a single container for a composite sample.
Acceptable recovery rates (80-120% of the true value) have been found when no more than 4
wipes are analyzed as a single sample.
7. If composite samples are collected, composite blank and spiked (control) QA/QC samples
should also be submitted for analysis..
Question 14.
What information do spectrum analyzers display?
ANSWER
They produce a graph called an energy spectrum to help resolve discrepancies in the readings
due to interference from substrate materials below the paint. The spectrum analyzers display
information from the entire energy spectrum, making it more sophisticated.
Question 15.
What is ionized radiation exposure measured in?
ANSWER
The quantity of ionizing radiation exposure is measured in roentgens. The units of dosage are
measured in roentgen equivalent man (rem) or one-one thousandths of a rem ( mrem or
millirem) The higher the dosage the greater the potential for adverse health effects.
