The challenge faced by environmental professionals, public health officers and community activists include pinpointing the lead’s location in the environment, identifying contamination sources and confirming that the clearance criteria is achieved after abatement. The conventional approach built on field-based sample collection, combined with laboratory analysis, largely has been replaced by the use of handheld equipment that effectively brings the lab into the field. Thermo Scientific Niton x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers quickly identify and quantify lead in virtually all sample types: paint, consumer goods, soil, sediment, dust, air, and more.
Supported by a performance characteristic sheet (PCS) documenting no inconclusive readings, no need for substrate correction, and no false positives/false negative readings, the Niton® XLp 300 Series can determine in seconds whether lead is positive (defined by the US EPA as greater than or equal to 1.0 mg/cm2) or negative. In case you are in a jurisdiction with more stringent standards, you can easily change the action level to ensure compliance with local regulations. Actual lead values are also displayed, permitting you to more accurately quantify the hazards associated with particular samples. The patented depth index goes further down indicating if lead is present or if it is buried deeply in the paint matrix.
Analyzing lead dust is another challenge. Lead dust is harmful even in minimal amounts as is understood by the RRP rule. Standard practice involves collecting the dust on an ASTM-compliant towelette wiped over a defined area. This step is followed by analyzing the "wipe" for determination of the lead load, which yields a lead-dust concentration in µg/ft2. The Niton XLp 300 Series XRF analyzer offers the ability to perform this analysis on site using the optional dust wipe analysis mode.
Further, the Niton XLp 300 Series has the capability of measuring lead in consumer products with its "Consumer Goods" mode. This mode helps testing lead in accordance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 by adding the extended capability to measure lead in plastics, fabric, and other products. Lead in plastics and similar substrates is reported in parts per million (ppm), while lead in paint is measured in micrograms per square centimeter (µg/cm2). The instrument is the only analyzer with a PCS that does not contain an inconclusive range while still featuring the detection limits necessary to comply with the CPSIA.
Key Benefits
The key benefits are:
- The only lead paint analyzer with the ideal PCS
- Soil mode to evaluate outdoor risks
- Dust mode to pre-screen abatement or renovation work
- Consumer Products mode for complete EBL evaluation
- Quick, easy-to-use tool for RRP Rule compliance