title: Rapid new methods for paint collection and lead extraction.
abstract: Chronic exposure of children to lead can result in permanent physiological impairment. In adults, it can cause irritability, poor muscle coordination, and nerve damage to the sense organs and nerves controlling the body. Surfaces coated with lead-containing paints are potential sources of exposure to lead. In April 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized new requirements that would reduce exposure to lead hazards created by renovation, repair, and painting activities, which disturb lead-based paint. On-site, inexpensive identification of lead-based paint is required. Two steps have been taken to meet this challenge. First, this paper presents a new, highly efficient method for paint collection that is based on the use of a modified wood drill bit. Second, this paper presents a novel, one-step approach for quantitatively grinding and extracting lead from paint samples for subsequent lead determination. This latter method is based on the use of a high-revolutions per minute rotor with stator to break up the paint into approximately 50 micron-size particles. Nitric acid (25%, v/v) is used to extract the lead in <3 minutes. Recoveries are consistently >95% for real-world paints, National Institute of Standards and Technology's standard reference materials, and audit samples from the American Industrial Hygiene Association's Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing Program. This quantitative extraction procedure, when paired with quantitative paint sample collection and lead determination, may enable the development of a lead paint test kit that will meet the specifications of the final EPA rule.
authors.affiliation: RTI International, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. wfg@rti.org
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Gutknecht
authors.forename: Sharon L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Harper
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Winstead
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sorrell
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Binstock
authors.forename: Cynthia A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Salmons
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McCombs
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Studabaker
authors.forename: Constance V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.forename: Curtis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D010150:Paint
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007854:Lead