Sunday, December 22, 2013

Sampling Methods Used By A Lead Inspector In San Diego

By Marcia Marks


Elevated levels of Pb metal leads to lead-poisoning. Most of Pb metal that later find itself in water or other food comes from Pb-paint. A good number of old buildings have Pb-paint on the inside and outside. When old paint cracks and peels, it generates dust which gets in to the child body when he put his hands or toy in his mouth. Due to the safety and health risk associated with this, Pb abatement is normally ordered by the state or the local government to eliminate any hazard that is caused by Pb. Inspection must be done by a certified lead inspector in San Diego.

The severity of Pb poisoning depends on the age with children being the most affected. Adults are only affected by large quantities of this metal. Children affected by this metal normally manifest the following characteristics: Learning disability, low IQ, attention deficit disorder, stunted growth among others. Adults on the other hand will exhibit the following effects: Fertility problem, nerves disorder, increased blood pressure among others. Note this; if no intervention is sought early enough, then Pb poisoning can lead to fatality.

Detecting the presence of lead in your property is not a do-it-yourself task; it should be done by a well trained and experience person. What normally happens is that the professional will visit your home, collect samples from different parts of the building, and take them to the chemistry laboratory for analysis. It is good to note that not all labs can perform this analysis; only certified Pb analysis laboratories.

Sampling is the first and the most important aspect of Pb analysis, and care should be taken when undertaking this stage to yield the best results. There are three methods that are commonly used by Pb inspectors to sample property for Pb. The reason for using different method of sampling is because of the variations in the material used in construction.

The first one is known as dust wipe sampling method. This process is preferred for hard, smooth and nonporous surfaces. It is also good to note that dust from textured surfaces like bricks might not make the best samples. Dust obtained from fiber surfaces like carpets and cloth-covered furniture should be avoided if possible. Samples that guarantee best results are dust from floors or windowsills. Protective gear such as plastic gloves should always be worn.

Soil sampling method involves collecting samples from the ground. It is based on the fact that most pain particles or other things containing Pb such as car smoke end up in the ground. Soil sampling is only performed just for the safety of your home but it is not required for compliance to hazardous waste regulation.

Paint chip sampling should be done before dust sampling to minimize the prospect of cross-samples contamination. The person collecting paint chips should wear new disposable gloves for each sample. This method is a requirement as many paints that property owners use are made of Pb.

It is the work of the lead inspector in San Diego to read and interpret the result provided by the lab technician. The next thing is to determine the severity of contamination ad come up with the appropriate course of action to make sure that the home is free of Pb. After that, another sampling is carried out to ensure that no lead is present.




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