EPA Lead Inspector flashcards
EPA Lead Inspector · Build recall with a focused review session.
32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.
- Definition of lead-based paint
- Under 40 CFR 745.103, paint or coating containing 1.0 mg/cm2 or more lead, or more than 0.5 percent lead by weight.
- Title X
- The 1992 Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act that established the national framework for lead hazard evaluation and abatement.
- Inspector versus risk assessor
- An inspector identifies and reports LBP by surface; a risk assessor also evaluates hazards and recommends options to reduce them.
- RRP Rule scope
- The Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule governs renovation in pre-1978 housing and child-occupied facilities, distinct from abatement.
- State authorization
- EPA may authorize states or tribes to run their own lead programs; in those jurisdictions state rules govern lead activities.
- Child-occupied facility
- A building or portion visited regularly by children under age 6, such as a daycare or school, triggering lead requirements.
- No safe blood lead level
- Health authorities state no safe blood lead level has been identified in children; effects can occur at low levels.
- Blood lead reference value
- A population-based CDC value used to identify children with elevated blood lead; currently 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.
- Most at-risk population
- Fetuses and children under age 6 are most vulnerable because of developing nervous systems and hand-to-mouth behavior.
- Take-home lead exposure
- Lead dust carried home on clothing, shoes, or skin from work or hobbies can expose household members, especially children.
- Dust as exposure pathway
- Settled dust on floors, sills, and troughs is a primary pathway of childhood lead exposure through hand-to-mouth contact.
- Adult lead health effects
- In adults, lead exposure can increase blood pressure and cause kidney effects, anemia, and cognitive changes.
- Bone lead mobilization
- Lead stored in bone can be released during pregnancy and lactation, so past exposure remains relevant to current risk.
- Testing combination
- A group of components of the same type, substrate, and paint history that can be represented by one tested component.
- Surface-by-surface inspection
- An inspection method that tests each distinct component type in each room to determine the presence and location of LBP.
- Floor plan documentation
- A sketch labeling rooms, components, sample locations, and deteriorated paint areas that maps field findings to laboratory results.
- Pre-1978 presumption
- Housing built before 1978 is presumed to contain lead-based paint unless testing demonstrates otherwise.
- Client interview purpose
- Gathering building age, renovation history, and prior lead work to inform sampling design and identify likely hazard areas.
- Paint-chip sampling depth
- Chip samples should include all paint layers down to the substrate and be collected from a measured area for reporting.
- XRF substrate correction
- Some substrates such as brick or concrete affect XRF readings; substrate correction is applied when the instrument requires it.
- Dust wipe sampling area
- Dust wipes are collected from a measured area, commonly one square foot on floors and sills, using disposable templates.
- Soil sample depth
- Soil samples are typically collected from bare soil at about 0.5 to 1 inch depth, composited from several sub-samples.
- Chain of custody
- A documented record tracking samples from collection through laboratory analysis to ensure integrity and defensibility.
- Field quality control samples
- Blanks and duplicates collected alongside field samples to detect contamination and assess sampling and analytical precision.
- Clearance dust sampling
- Post-abatement dust sampling on floors, sills, and troughs compared against established clearance standards.
- Laboratory accreditation
- Analysis should be performed by an accredited laboratory, such as one recognized under NLLAP, with proficiency testing.
- XRF daily performance check
- Instruments must be calibrated and performance-checked daily; readings outside tolerance require recalibration before continued use.
- Weight percent versus area
- Paint results may be reported as percent lead by weight or as mg/cm2 when the sampled area is known.
- Resolving inconclusive XRF
- Conflicting or inconclusive XRF readings should be confirmed with laboratory paint-chip analysis before conclusions are drawn.
- Report scope statement
- A report should state methods, standards, and limitations, including areas that were inaccessible for testing.
- Distinguishing findings from opinions
- Reports should separate inspection findings from risk assessment conclusions and recommendations to avoid misrepresentation.
- Ethical reporting obligations
- Inspectors must report accurately, protect client confidentiality, and disclose conflicts of interest without exaggeration.