Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Model Lead Based Paint Risk Assessor Practice Test

If paint chips adhere to the wipe sample, what should be done with them?

1. They should be discarded

2. They should be analyzed separately

3. They can be ignored for testing

4. They should be included as part of the sample

The correct answer is: They should be included as part of the sample

When paint chips adhere to a wipe sample, they should be included as part of the sample for analysis. This is important because the presence of paint chips in the wipe sample can provide significant information regarding lead hazards. Wipe sampling is typically conducted to assess the amount of lead dust on surfaces, but when paint chips are present, they could contain lead-based paint that contributes to lead exposure risks. Including the paint chips in the sample ensures a comprehensive evaluation of potential lead hazards in the environment. It allows for a more accurate assessment of the overall lead exposure risk in a home or building. Discarding them or analyzing them separately could lead to an incomplete understanding of the lead risk, and ignoring them would mean overlooking a potential significant source of lead. Thus, integrating the paint chips into the wipe sample analysis supports a thorough risk assessment process aligned with EPA guidelines.