Public health officials, environmental professionals, and community activists face an overwhelming challenge: pinpoint lead's location in the environment, identify the sources of contamination, and confirm that clearance criteria have been achieved after abatement. The traditional approach built on field-based sample collection, combined with laboratory analysis, largely has been replaced by the use of handheld equipment – effectively bringing the lab into the field. Thermo Scientific Niton x-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers quickly identify and quantify lead in virtually all sample types: paint, consumer goods, soil, sediment, dust, air, and more.
Supported by a Performance Characteristic Sheet (PCS) documenting no inconclusive readings, no need for substrate correction, and no false positives/false negative readings, the Niton® XLp 300 Series can determine in seconds whether lead is positive (defined by the US EPA as greater than or equal to 1.0 mg/cm2) or negative. If you are in a jurisdiction with more stringent standards, you can easily change the action level to ensure compliance with local regulations. Actual lead values are also displayed, permitting you to more accurately quantify the hazards associated with particular samples. And our patented depth index goes one step further, telling you whether lead is present on the surface, or whether it is deeply buried within the paint matrix.
The analysis of lead dust poses another challenge. Widely acknowledged as the primary source of childhood lead poisoning, lead dust is hazardous even in very small amounts as is recognized by the RRP Rule. Standard practice involves collecting the dust on an ASTM-compliant towelette wiped over a defined area. This step is followed by analysis of the "wipe" for determination of the lead load, which yields a lead-dust concentration in µg/ft2. The Niton XLp 300 Series XRF analyzer offers the ability to perform this analysis on site using the optional Dust Wipe Analysis mode.
Further, the Niton XLp 300 Series has the added capability of measuring lead in consumer products with its "Consumer Goods" mode. This mode allows you to test for lead in accordance with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) of 2008 by adding the extended capability to measure lead in plastics, fabric, and other products. Lead in plastics and similar substrates is reported in parts per million (ppm), while lead in paint is measured in micrograms per square centimeter (µg/cm2). The instrument is the only analyzer with a PCS that does not contain an inconclusive range while still featuring the detection limits necessary to comply with the CPSIA.
Thermo Scientific Niton XLp 300 Series analyzers provide many distinct advantages:
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The only lead paint analyzer with the ideal PCS
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Soil mode to evaluate outdoor risks
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Dust mode to pre-screen abatement or renovation work
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Consumer Products mode for complete EBL evaluation
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Quick, easy-to-use tool for RRP Rule compliance