EPA LEAD INSPECTOR EXAM VERIFIED
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS LATEST 2025-2026 UPDATE |GRADE
A+ GRADE GUARANTEE
CPSC - Answer-- 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 - Answer-
True; only risk assessors take samples to determine likelihood of coming
into contact with contaminants
What kind of sampling must be done for inspections? - Answer-
Random ... repeats must be annotated then you move onto the next
HUD Guidelines for abatement - Answer-Must last 20 years. Includes
the following procedures: - Removal - Enclosure - Replacement -
Encapsulation Painting over is a temporary fix!
, Water standards for lead - Answer-- 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? - Answer-- Durable - Colorful - Anti-
corrosive - Anti-fungal - Drying agent
What does RRP do? - Answer-- 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? - Answer-Presume
lead-based paint.
Lead-based paint (LBP) - Answer-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 - Answer-- 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 - Answer-- 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 - Answer-- AAS (Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry) - Sample is placed into a furnace and vaporized ... light is
shone through to give a quantitative result
XRF - Answer-- 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 - Answer-ANY condition that causes exposure to lead
LBP inspection - Answer-a surface-by-surface investigation to
determine the presence of lead
Where is LBP still allowed? - Answer-Commercial purposes/boats
What are the major industrial uses of lead? - Answer-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
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS LATEST 2025-2026 UPDATE |GRADE
A+ GRADE GUARANTEE
CPSC - Answer-- 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 - Answer-
True; only risk assessors take samples to determine likelihood of coming
into contact with contaminants
What kind of sampling must be done for inspections? - Answer-
Random ... repeats must be annotated then you move onto the next
HUD Guidelines for abatement - Answer-Must last 20 years. Includes
the following procedures: - Removal - Enclosure - Replacement -
Encapsulation Painting over is a temporary fix!
, Water standards for lead - Answer-- 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? - Answer-- Durable - Colorful - Anti-
corrosive - Anti-fungal - Drying agent
What does RRP do? - Answer-- 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? - Answer-Presume
lead-based paint.
Lead-based paint (LBP) - Answer-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 - Answer-- 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 - Answer-- 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 - Answer-- AAS (Atomic Absorption
Spectrometry) - Sample is placed into a furnace and vaporized ... light is
shone through to give a quantitative result
XRF - Answer-- 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 - Answer-ANY condition that causes exposure to lead
LBP inspection - Answer-a surface-by-surface investigation to
determine the presence of lead
Where is LBP still allowed? - Answer-Commercial purposes/boats
What are the major industrial uses of lead? - Answer-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
