Lead (Pb) in Paint Analysis

A particular area of growth where potentially large volumes of toxic / hazardous waste can be generated is the Demolition / Redevelopment industry. This includes lead in paints, rubble materials and shot blast.

As part of WAC Testing the laboratory offers a fast, reliable and accurate test to confirm and quantify levels of lead (Pb) present in any particular waste stream including lead typically used in old paint.

Where the form of the lead in the waste cannot be differentiated from either elemental lead or one of its lead compounds, it is appropriate to consider the ‘worst-case’ classification of the lead as the form Red Lead (Pb3O4).

Red Lead has the following risk phrases; R8, R20/22, R33, R50/53, and R61/62.

The risk phrases are used in the Hazardous Property Assessment of the waste, and if the waste is found to have any of the hazardous properties (H1 to H14) then the waste will be classified as hazardous for disposal.

The risk phrases R20/22 are appropriate to the hazardous property H5 “Harmful” if the threshold limit of >= 25% w/w as Red Lead is met.

Similarly, the risk phrase R61 is appropriate to the hazardous property H10 “Toxic for Reproduction/Teratogenic” if the threshold limit of >= 0.5% w/w as Red Lead is met.

Finally, the risk phrases R50/53 are appropriate to the hazardous property H14 “Ecotoxic” if the threshold limit of >= 0.25% w/w as Red Lead is met.

Hazardous property H14 is the lowest critical limit value which differentiates the waste from being classed as either non-hazardous or hazardous for disposal as now shown below: -

WAC testing was introduced to supplement the revised changes to the Hazardous Waste and Landfill regulations in 2005.

In the event that lead waste falls into the category of Hazardous waste further testing may be required.

The additional test involves applying an acceptance leaching test, which requires taking of a representative sample of the waste and subjecting it primarily to leaching in water under specific test conditions. Acceptance limits for lead (Pb) are outlined in the Waste Acceptance Criteria tests.

Only a small quantity of paint flakes are required for assessment. The technique involves leaching of the material under test in mineral acid to extract any soluble lead from the matrix and analysing. Analysis is performed under UKAS accredited testing procedures using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).

Please contact us to discuss your needs in detail, and we will be happy to issue a no-obligation quotation.



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