X-ray Fluorescence: Detection of Lead in Wall Paint

Abstract

An instrument has been developed for the in situ determination of lead on painted surfaces. It utilizes, as a source of gamma rays, radioactive cadmium-109 and its daughter silver-109 (metastable) to excite the K series x-rays of lead, and a solid-state, lithium-drifted germanium detector. The device, which is capable of detecting 0.26 milligram of lead per square centimeter of paint [approximately 3 percent (by weight) of lead in a single coat] beneath ten layers of lead-free paint, has been tested in a preliminary survey of several tenement apartments in New York City.

The Juvenile Baboon as a Model for Studies of Lead Poisoning in Children

“…Chisolm and Harrison [1956] have reported levels of lead excretion in feces, for children residing in slum areas, ranging from 0.13 mg/ 24 h for non-exposed controls to 9.6 mg/24 h for children with blood lead concentrations greater than 0.06 mg %, but whom they classify as 'asymptomatic, increased lead absorption'. Since 10-20 mg of lead per cm2 of paint occurs frequently in New York City slum apartments [Laurer et al, 1971] and concentrations greater than 30 mg/cm2 are not uncommon, it is conceivable that the ingestion of even a small amount of leaded paint (in the order of 0.4-1.1 cm2 if 10% absorption is assumed) might lead to blood lead concentrations considerably exceed ing the guideline values currently in use for case finding.…”

Experimental evaluation of analytical methods for determining lead in paint and building materials:

“…Under our instrumental conditions using the direct reading (1) Polarography ; (2) Potentiometry using a lead electrode; (3) Atomic Absorption Spectrometry using conventional solution aspiration of the sample; (4) Atomic Absorption using a spiral coil sample atomizer; (5) Atomic Absorption using a carbon rod atomizer; (6) X-Ray Fluorescence laboratory instrument; (7) X-Ray Fluorescence portable instruments; (8) X-Ray Fluorescence portable instruments using the L X-ray spectral line were not suitable for detecting lead paints in situ when they were covered by one or more layers of non-leaded paint.…”

“…The methods are (1) Polarography ; (2) Potentiometry using a lead electrode; (3) Atomic absorption spectrometry using conventional solution aspiration of the sample; (4) Atomic absorption using a spiral coil sample atomizer; (5) Atomic absorption using a carbon rod atomizer; (6) X-ray fluorescence laboratory instrument; (7) X-ray fluorescence portable instruments; (8) Spectrophotometry using the dithizone procedure; (9) Both studies involve evaluation of interferences, dissolution procedures, and matrix effects.…”

Analytical methods for the detection of toxic elements in dry paint matrices -- a literature survey

“…In antifouling marine coatings, Pb was easily detected in the presence of large quantities of cuprous oxide [40]. Laurer, et al [41,42] described the development of such an instrument for the detection of Pb in wall paint. It utilized "^Cd -Ag as the source of y-rays to stimulate the emission of the Kg series x-rays of the Pb atoms, which were then detected by a solid state Ge(Li) detector.…”