Field Validation of Real Time Airborne Lead Analyzer
Abstract
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates 936,000 sites in the U.S. are potentially hazardous due to the risk of airborne lead inhalation. The Department of Defense (DOD) real estate records indicate there are more than 2,600 munitions related sites containing lead, and there are over 101 million square feet of Army buildings that were built before the 1978 ban on lead-based paint (LBP). DOD is responsible for maintaining 166,000 family housing units, 65 percent of which are estimated to contain LBP and require abatement. Environmental responses at these sites require Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandated monitoring (40 CFR 50) as well as verification of worker safety according to OSHA regulations. These regulations do not provide a real-time method to verify compliance. Rapid, on-site airborne lead measurements are needed to provide a basis for immediate response to airborne lead levels that are near or exceeding OSHA Permissible Exposure Limits (PEL) to minimize any significant exposure to field personnel. In 1995, OSHA issued over 3,000 citations for violations of the General Industry Standard for Lead (29 CFR 1910.1025) and the Construction Industry Standard for Lead (29 CFR 1962.26). The objective of this project was to demonstrate and validate a personal breathing zone (PBZ) lead analyzer/single sample ambient air monitor (AAM), which will report occupational airborne lead levels in near real-time. The first field site where the analyzer was tested was the indoor firing range located at Naval Amphibious Base ( (NFESC Feb 2000) Little Creek, Virginia. The demonstration occurred from 19 to 21 January 2000. Based on the field results, further work was conducted on the unit before going to the second demonstration location at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California. The tests took place from 6 to 8 June 2000 (NFESC Aug 2000). This site was an outdoor firing range.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA607418
Entities
People
- Clifford D. Jolly
- Leslie Karr
Organizations
- Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command