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ATC Environmental Monitoring -
LEAD DUST

Although use of lead-based paint is prohibited in residences, lead is still added to industrial paints because of its ability to resist corrosion. Any event that disturbs paint that contains lead can generate significant amounts of lead dust. Exposure to lead dust can cause irreversible brain, nervous system, and organ damage. The primary route of entry into the body is inhalation, but lead dust may also be inadvertently ingested (eaten) after having settled out on food or skin. Once in the blood, lead is distributed among three bodily components ­ blood, soft tissue (kidney, bone marrow, liver, and brain) and mineralizing tissue (bones and teeth). Lead poisoning often has no obvious symptoms, resulting in frequent misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, and therefore increased likelihood of permanent physical and mental damage.

Title IV of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) establishes the following standards for lead dust:
• Floors not greater than 40 µg/ft2 (micrograms per square foot)
• Interior window sills not greater than 250 µg/ft2.

LEAD DUST (NYC Health Code limit: windowsill=250µg/ft2, floor=40µg/ft2)
DATE # OF SAMPLES RESULTS
6/19/02 17 all below limit of detection
6/12/02 17 all below limit of detection
6/05/02 17 all below limit of detection
5/29/02 17 13 below limit of detection,
4 readings between 5.6 and 16.2 µg/ft2
5/22/02 17 all below limit of detection
5/08/02 17 all below limit of detection
5/01/02 17 16 below limit of detection,
1 reading of 22.1 µg/ft2
4/24/02 17 all below limit of detection
4/17/02 17 all below limit of detection
4/10/02 17 all below limit of detection
4/03/02 17 all below limit of detection
3/27/02 17 all below limit of detection
3/20/02 17 all below limit of detection
3/13/02 17 16 below limit of detection,
1 reading of 6.1 µg/ft2
3/06/02 17 all below limit of detection
3/01/02 60 all below limit of detection
2/27/02 17 12 below limit of detection,
5 readings between 9.3 and 54.4 µg/ft2
2/23/02 17 all below limit of detection
2/20/02 17 all below limit of detection
2/13/02 9 8 below limit of detection,
1 reading of 21.5 µg/ft2
2/07/02 6 1 below limit of detection,
5 readings between 9.5 and 13.6 µg/ft2
2/06/02 17 5 below limit of detection,
12 readings between 10.1 and 312.1 µg/ft2
1/30/02 17 16 below limit of detection,
1 reading of 9.1 µg/ft2
1/23/02 17 all below limit of detection
1/16/02 17 all below limit of detection
1/09/02 17 all below limit of detection
1/03/02 9 all below limit of detection
1/02/02 17 2 below limit of detection,
15 readings between 10.8 and 599.4 µg/ft2
12/26/01 17 13 below limit of detection,
4 readings between 10.0 and 12.3 µg/ft2
12/19/01 17 5 below limit of detection,
14 readings between 9.0 and 54.0 µg/ft2
12/12/01 17 16 below limit of detection,
1 reading of 20.2 µg/ft2
12/05/01 17 12 below limit of detection,
5 readings between 9.7 and 25.8 µg/ft2
11/28/01 11 all below limit of detection
11/21/01 17 all below limit of detection
11/14/01 17 all below limit of detection