Lead-based paint detection using perovskite fluorescence and X-ray fluorescence.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Lead-based paint ingestion by infants is a persistent global health issue.
• Despite bans in some regions, lead paint remains available in many countries.
• Exposed lead paint poses significant, long-term health risks to children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel kit for detecting lead-based paint.
• The kit utilizes lead-halide perovskite formation and fluorescence under UV light.
• To assess the kit's performance against established analytical methods.

Main Methods:

• The Lumetallix kit was tested in parallel with X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and ICP-AES.
• Analyses were performed on paint samples from Côte d'Ivoire and older US paint.
• The study involved 76 paint samples.

Main Results:

• The Lumetallix kit demonstrated a detection limit of approximately 500 mg/kg (ppm) lead.
• This detection limit is ten times lower than the US regulatory definition of lead-based paint (5,000 ppm).
• The kit achieved 95% sensitivity and 94% selectivity at this threshold.

Conclusions:

• The user-friendly kit enables widespread screening of potential lead paint hazards by the public.
• The kit offers a scalable solution for initial risk assessment.
• Overpainted lead-based paint may not be detected by this kit but would be by XRF.