EPA Risk assessor
1. At which age are children most vulnerable to lead exposure and its associated health impacts?
- Answer: Children between 1 and 3 years of age are at the greatest risk of lead exposure.
2. What happens to lead absorption in individuals who have poor nutritional habits?
- Answer: Poor nutrition increases the absorption of lead through the intestines after ingestion.
3. What is a significant source of lead exposure for infants and young children?
- Answer: Lead-contaminated surface dust and soil are major sources of exposure.
4. Which body system is primarily affected in children exposed to low levels of lead?
- Answer: The central nervous system is the most impacted system.
5. During a Risk Assessment, dust sampling should exclude which of the following locations?
- Answer: The top step leading to the front door of the house should not be included in dust sampling.
6. Where in the body does lead remain stored for an extended period?
- Answer: Lead is stored in the bones for the longest duration.
7. What is a structural defect that can contribute to paint failure?
- Answer: A leaking roof is an example of a structural defect causing paint failure.
8. Identify a substrate defect that could lead to paint failure.
- Answer: Plaster that has detached from the wood lath is an example of a substrate defect.
9. What is a finish defect that can cause paint failure?
- Answer: Grease on a kitchen wall serves as an example of a finish defect.
, 10. When should a risk assessor refrain from recommending interim controls as a means to manage
hazards?
- Answer: Interim controls should not be recommended when there are defects in the substrate or
component.
11. Which activity is the most likely to elevate airborne lead levels above the permissible exposure limit
(PEL)?
- Answer: Using heat guns at temperatures exceeding 1,100°F is likely to result in increased lead levels
in the air.
12. At what point does a risk assessor conduct air sampling?
- Answer: Air sampling is never performed during a risk assessment.
13. Which abatement method poses the greatest risk of lead exposure to workers involved in lead
abatement?
- Answer: Paint removal is the method most likely to result in dangerous exposure levels for workers.
14. What is the best strategy for reducing lead hazards in a home?
- Answer: The most effective approach combines removal, replacement, encapsulation, and enclosure
of lead-based paint with interim controls.
15. What is the recommended method for effectively cleaning lead dust?
- Answer: The best practice involves using HEPA vacuuming along with tri-sodium phosphate cleaning
cycles.
16. Which type of environmental sampling is considered optional in a comprehensive risk assessment?
- Answer: Water sampling is optional.
17. When assessing multi-family housing, how is the "worst case" unit selected?
- Answer: A visual assessment during a walkthrough of each unit is conducted to identify the "worst
case."
1. At which age are children most vulnerable to lead exposure and its associated health impacts?
- Answer: Children between 1 and 3 years of age are at the greatest risk of lead exposure.
2. What happens to lead absorption in individuals who have poor nutritional habits?
- Answer: Poor nutrition increases the absorption of lead through the intestines after ingestion.
3. What is a significant source of lead exposure for infants and young children?
- Answer: Lead-contaminated surface dust and soil are major sources of exposure.
4. Which body system is primarily affected in children exposed to low levels of lead?
- Answer: The central nervous system is the most impacted system.
5. During a Risk Assessment, dust sampling should exclude which of the following locations?
- Answer: The top step leading to the front door of the house should not be included in dust sampling.
6. Where in the body does lead remain stored for an extended period?
- Answer: Lead is stored in the bones for the longest duration.
7. What is a structural defect that can contribute to paint failure?
- Answer: A leaking roof is an example of a structural defect causing paint failure.
8. Identify a substrate defect that could lead to paint failure.
- Answer: Plaster that has detached from the wood lath is an example of a substrate defect.
9. What is a finish defect that can cause paint failure?
- Answer: Grease on a kitchen wall serves as an example of a finish defect.
, 10. When should a risk assessor refrain from recommending interim controls as a means to manage
hazards?
- Answer: Interim controls should not be recommended when there are defects in the substrate or
component.
11. Which activity is the most likely to elevate airborne lead levels above the permissible exposure limit
(PEL)?
- Answer: Using heat guns at temperatures exceeding 1,100°F is likely to result in increased lead levels
in the air.
12. At what point does a risk assessor conduct air sampling?
- Answer: Air sampling is never performed during a risk assessment.
13. Which abatement method poses the greatest risk of lead exposure to workers involved in lead
abatement?
- Answer: Paint removal is the method most likely to result in dangerous exposure levels for workers.
14. What is the best strategy for reducing lead hazards in a home?
- Answer: The most effective approach combines removal, replacement, encapsulation, and enclosure
of lead-based paint with interim controls.
15. What is the recommended method for effectively cleaning lead dust?
- Answer: The best practice involves using HEPA vacuuming along with tri-sodium phosphate cleaning
cycles.
16. Which type of environmental sampling is considered optional in a comprehensive risk assessment?
- Answer: Water sampling is optional.
17. When assessing multi-family housing, how is the "worst case" unit selected?
- Answer: A visual assessment during a walkthrough of each unit is conducted to identify the "worst
case."
