Household lead dust is considered to be an important source of childhood lead exposure. For professionals conducting specialized dust-lead cleaning of carpeted surfaces or upholstery, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Guidelines for lead control recommends that the surfaces be vacuumed with a high efficiency particulate air filtered (HEPA) vacuum at the specified rate. Current guidelines for the general public suggest the use of a standard vacuum on carpets and upholstery if there is no visible paint dust or chips. One objective of the NJACT study was to assess the efficacy of both a HEPA vacuum and a household vacuum in removing lead-contaminated dust from carpets and upholstery. Homes having children with elevated blood lead levels were randomized and cleaned according to one of two methods (1=HEPA vacuum; 2=non-HEPA vacuum). Although the cleaning staff was trained to vacuum according to the rates specified in the HUD Guidelines, the actual rates were not verified in the field. Vacuum, HUD wipe and Carbon-18 membrane sampling methods were used to collect lead dust from upholstery and carpets before and after cleaning. Preliminary analysis of approximately 73% data indicates that the mean dust lead levels of carpets and upholstery, as measured by the three sampling methods, were lower for post-cleaning, but the difference was not significant (p=0.05). These result suggest that neither the HEPA vacuum nor the common household vacuum, as used in the study, can effectively reduce dust lead levels on upholstery or carpets. Final results will be presented.
Learning Objectives: Recognize dust lead levels on carpets and upholstery in the homes with lead burdened children Assess the effectiveness of different cleaning methods on carpets and upholstery Develop a strategy to handle lead-contaminated carpets or upholstery carefully
Keywords: Lead, Environmental Exposures
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.