Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead Risk Assessor Practice Exam

Lead-based paint is primarily found in which type of paint?

1. Water-based paint

2. Oil paint

3. Acrylic paint

4. Latex paint

The correct answer is: Oil paint

Lead-based paint is primarily found in oil paint, particularly in the historical context of residential and commercial buildings. This is primarily due to oil paint’s properties, which were often enhanced with lead-based pigments to improve durability, color richness, and the paint's drying speed. Oil-based paints were commonly used until regulations started restricting the use of lead in paints during the late 20th century due to health concerns associated with lead exposure. Lead exposure can lead to serious health effects, particularly in children, making the identification of lead-based oil paints critical for risk assessment and public health protection. Water-based paint, acrylic paint, and latex paint typically do not contain lead in significant amounts, as they were developed as alternatives to oil-based paints. Understanding the historical use of lead in oil paints is essential for lead risk assessors to effectively identify and manage potential sources of lead exposure in older buildings.