June 14th, 2018
In 2011, QuanTech performed this multi-faceted study. It included a review of existing survey data, developing some exposure scenarios, reviewing existing XRF PCS data, reviewing capabilities with existing XRF manufacturers, and discussing policy and economic implications. Their conclusions were as follows:
“There appears to be sufficient technical capability to lower the LBP standard by a factor of 10, down to 0.1 mg/cm². However, the power of LBP as a predictor of lead dust and lead soil hazards is significantly diluted by reductions in the LBP action level. In addition, the economic impact of lowering the LBP standard increases sharply with lower values of the new standard. Costs for a new standard of 0.1 mg/cm²are from 8 to 10 times higher than for a new standard of 0.7 mg/cm², and exceed the costs of the entire RRP Rule as estimated in the Economic Analysis of the proposed rule[1]. The definition of LBP as it currently stands at 1.0 mg/cm² already captures the majority of US housing having lead dust and lead soil hazards. Therefore, given the high cost and the marginal gain in predictive power for lead hazards resulting from reducing the standard, the incentive and need to lower the LBP standard are small.”