Page 1 of 86
CDPH Lead Inspector / Assessor California State Exam
_Latest Update 2025
Atomic Symbol for Lead and origin Latin word?
.....ANSWER.....Pb; plumbum meaning "liquid silver"
What form of lead is mostly used in the United States?
.....ANSWER.....#1 Form: Lead Acid Batteries, #2 Form:
Ammunition, #3 Form: Paints & Coatings
Why is/was lead added to paint? .....ANSWER.....Durability.
Other qualities include: prevents mold growth & corrosion,
soundproofing, quick drying.
What is white lead? .....ANSWER.....Major form of lead used in
paint before 1950, it was the only white paint used in European
paintings until 19th century, heavy consistency, fastest drying
white paint.
,Page 2 of 86
What does Presumed Lead-Based Paint refer to?
.....ANSWER.....Residential structures built prior to January 1,
1978/ also called Target Housing.
Supplied Air Respirators (SARs) must use what grade air and
what hose length? .....ANSWER.....Grade D Air (oxygen level
greater than or equal to 19.5% and less than or equal to
23.5%), hose must not exceed 300 feet in length.
When do you replace coveralls daily? When do you replace
them weekly? .....ANSWER.....Weekly replacement if exposed to
50 - 200 μg/m3. Daily Replacement if exposed to more than
200 μg/m3.
When are you required to wear a respirator?
.....ANSWER.....When an employee's exposure to lead exceeds
the PEL, work operations for which engineering controls and work
practices are not sufficient enough to reduce levels to below PEL,
,Page 3 of 86
when an employee requests a respirator, and when respirators
are used for interim practices during trigger tasks.
EPA/HUD definition of Lead-Based Paint? .....ANSWER.....≥ 0.5%
by weight or ≥ 1.0 mg/cm2 or ≥ 5000 ppm
What year was the amount of lead that could be in certain
coatings restricted to a lead concentration of less than ≤ 0.06%
lead by weight (≤ 600 ppm) if the coating was applied to
surfaces that could be accessible to children/the public and who
by? .....ANSWER.....1978; Consumer Product Safety Commission.
What year was the allowable amount of lead further reduced if
applied to surfaces that could be accessible to children/the
public and what was it lowered to? .....ANSWER.....2009;
≤0.009% lead by weight (≤ 90ppm)
Who began phase out of lead gasoline for consumer use? What
year and what act officially banned it? .....ANSWER.....EPA;
1996 Clean Air Act.
, Page 4 of 86
In October (what year), the U.S. Congress passed a LAW called
the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act also
known as ____. .....ANSWER.....1992, Tile X or Title 10.
Title X lists 6 situations where lead is a hazard, what are they?
.....ANSWER.....Lead dust from lead-based paint (1) which is
damaged or deteriorated, (2) on any friction surface, (3) on any
impact surface. (4) Lead-painted surfaces that a child could
chew. Lead-contaminated (5) dust anywhere in the home or (6)
soil that is above the acceptable standards set by the EPA.
When does the EPA/HUD Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule
(RRP) under the authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act
apply, and what year was it introduced/enforced?
.....ANSWER.....Addresses hazards caused by renovation, repair
and painting work activities in any residential housing or child-
occupied facility constructed before 1978 (target housing). It
CDPH Lead Inspector / Assessor California State Exam
_Latest Update 2025
Atomic Symbol for Lead and origin Latin word?
.....ANSWER.....Pb; plumbum meaning "liquid silver"
What form of lead is mostly used in the United States?
.....ANSWER.....#1 Form: Lead Acid Batteries, #2 Form:
Ammunition, #3 Form: Paints & Coatings
Why is/was lead added to paint? .....ANSWER.....Durability.
Other qualities include: prevents mold growth & corrosion,
soundproofing, quick drying.
What is white lead? .....ANSWER.....Major form of lead used in
paint before 1950, it was the only white paint used in European
paintings until 19th century, heavy consistency, fastest drying
white paint.
,Page 2 of 86
What does Presumed Lead-Based Paint refer to?
.....ANSWER.....Residential structures built prior to January 1,
1978/ also called Target Housing.
Supplied Air Respirators (SARs) must use what grade air and
what hose length? .....ANSWER.....Grade D Air (oxygen level
greater than or equal to 19.5% and less than or equal to
23.5%), hose must not exceed 300 feet in length.
When do you replace coveralls daily? When do you replace
them weekly? .....ANSWER.....Weekly replacement if exposed to
50 - 200 μg/m3. Daily Replacement if exposed to more than
200 μg/m3.
When are you required to wear a respirator?
.....ANSWER.....When an employee's exposure to lead exceeds
the PEL, work operations for which engineering controls and work
practices are not sufficient enough to reduce levels to below PEL,
,Page 3 of 86
when an employee requests a respirator, and when respirators
are used for interim practices during trigger tasks.
EPA/HUD definition of Lead-Based Paint? .....ANSWER.....≥ 0.5%
by weight or ≥ 1.0 mg/cm2 or ≥ 5000 ppm
What year was the amount of lead that could be in certain
coatings restricted to a lead concentration of less than ≤ 0.06%
lead by weight (≤ 600 ppm) if the coating was applied to
surfaces that could be accessible to children/the public and who
by? .....ANSWER.....1978; Consumer Product Safety Commission.
What year was the allowable amount of lead further reduced if
applied to surfaces that could be accessible to children/the
public and what was it lowered to? .....ANSWER.....2009;
≤0.009% lead by weight (≤ 90ppm)
Who began phase out of lead gasoline for consumer use? What
year and what act officially banned it? .....ANSWER.....EPA;
1996 Clean Air Act.
, Page 4 of 86
In October (what year), the U.S. Congress passed a LAW called
the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act also
known as ____. .....ANSWER.....1992, Tile X or Title 10.
Title X lists 6 situations where lead is a hazard, what are they?
.....ANSWER.....Lead dust from lead-based paint (1) which is
damaged or deteriorated, (2) on any friction surface, (3) on any
impact surface. (4) Lead-painted surfaces that a child could
chew. Lead-contaminated (5) dust anywhere in the home or (6)
soil that is above the acceptable standards set by the EPA.
When does the EPA/HUD Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule
(RRP) under the authority of the Toxic Substances Control Act
apply, and what year was it introduced/enforced?
.....ANSWER.....Addresses hazards caused by renovation, repair
and painting work activities in any residential housing or child-
occupied facility constructed before 1978 (target housing). It
