Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead Risk Assessor Practice Exam

Which surface poses the highest risk for lead exposure in children?

1. Deteriorated paint

2. Soil

3. Dust

4. Porous surfaces

The correct answer is: Deteriorated paint

Deteriorated paint poses the highest risk for lead exposure in children primarily because it is a direct source of lead that can be ingested or inhaled. When lead-based paint deteriorates, it often chips, flakes, or creates dust that can be easily spread throughout the environment. Young children are particularly at risk because they frequently put their hands and objects that may have come into contact with lead dust into their mouths. This path of exposure is direct and can result in significant health impacts, given that even small amounts of lead can be harmful to children’s developing nervous systems. In contrast, while other surfaces like soil, dust, and porous surfaces also pose risks, they generally involve indirect pathways of exposure. For example, lead may accumulate in soil but usually does not present an immediate source of exposure unless children are playing in contaminated soil. Dust can contain lead particles, but it is often through deteriorated paint that dust becomes contaminated. Porous surfaces can absorb lead but are less likely to be a primary source of exposure when compared to deteriorated paint, which is more commonly encountered in homes and buildings built before lead-based paints were banned.