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

If a play area has a concentration of >5,000 ppm, what action should be taken?

1. Continue regular use

2. Conduct further testing

3. Implement immediate remediation

4. Ignore the readings

The correct answer is: Implement immediate remediation

When a play area shows a concentration of lead greater than 5,000 parts per million (ppm), the appropriate action is to implement immediate remediation. This level of lead concentration is significantly above safe thresholds established by health and environmental organizations due to the potential risks associated with lead exposure, particularly for children who may frequent the area to play. Immediate remediation is crucial to reduce the risk of lead poisoning, which can have serious health implications, including developmental delays, learning difficulties, and other long-term health problems. The urgency of the response ensures that effective measures are taken to contain, remove, or neutralize the lead hazard before it can harm the occupants or users of the space, particularly vulnerable populations such as children. Other actions, such as continuing regular use, conducting further testing, or ignoring the readings, do not adequately address the health risks posed by such high levels of lead. Therefore, implementing a remediation plan is essential to ensure safety and compliance with public health guidelines.