Adhesive tape for spatially resolved and sensitive detection of lead in dust using XRF

A method for rapidly and quantitatively measuring lead (Pb) in dust has been developed. Different types of wiping materials were tested. Due to its adhesive properties and flatness when folded, painter's tape effectively picks up dust and, when coupled with portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF) provides a rapid and sensitive measurement of Pb in dust. The tape can pick up approximately 0.095 g of dust, which is comparable to the amount of dust present in one square foot of a house that is vacuumed once a month (0.100 g). Dust in an area of 1 square foot was wiped up and a calibration curve was constructed by analyzing the folded tape on XRF (in ppm) versus the amount of Pb on the wipe that was determined by digestion and ICP-OES (in µg). Validation of this method revealed that when tested at each of the current EPA action levels for Pb dust (5 µg for floors, 40 µg for windowsills and 100 µg for window troughs), each of the false positive rates (FPR) was below 15% and each of the false negative rates (FNR) was below 5%. Thus, at these lower Pb levels, Painter's tape with XRF measurement could allow for spatially-resolved, rapid determination of Pb in dust on site, which has been a long-standing need.