Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead Risk Assessor Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a method of controlling lead exposure?

1. Encapsulation

2. Water treatment

3. Air sealing

4. Soil removal

The correct answer is: Water treatment

The selected answer, which identifies water treatment as not being a method of controlling lead exposure, reflects an important distinction in lead risk assessment. Lead exposure control methods primarily focus on reducing or eliminating lead sources from environments where people live and work, particularly concerning lead-based paint, dust, and soil. Encapsulation involves applying a protective barrier over lead-based paint to seal it and prevent exposure, thus effectively controlling lead inhalation or ingestion. Soil removal is a direct and effective method of eliminating lead-contaminated soil, which is especially important in areas where lead has been used in past industrial activities or where lead dust may settle. Air sealing can help in reducing the infiltration of outside dust and lead particles into homes, thereby controlling exposure, especially in older buildings that may have lead hazards. Water treatment, while important for managing various contaminants in drinking water, is not directly linked to controlling lead exposures in the ways that the other methods are. It may be effective for mitigating lead in drinking water, but it does not address exposure from other common sources, such as lead paint or soil. Hence, it is distinct and less applicable within the broader context of environmental lead exposure control.