Paint chips are positive for lead if the results by atomic absorption (AAS) exceed what percent by weight?

Paint chips are positive for lead if the results by atomic absorption (AAS) exceed what percent by weight?

• A. 3%
• B. 5%
• C. 1%
• D. 8%

Answer: (B)

When you test paint chips, you measure how much lead they contain as a percent of the chip’s weight using a method like atomic absorption spectroscopy. The criterion used here is that a chip is considered positive for lead if the lead content exceeds 5% by weight. This threshold identifies paints with a substantial lead load that require appropriate safety and remediation actions. Therefore, 5% is the defining cutoff; values below 5% don’t meet the positive criterion, while anything above (such as 8%) would be positive too, but the question asks for the threshold value.

When you test paint chips, you measure how much lead they contain as a percent of the chip’s weight using a method like atomic absorption spectroscopy. The criterion used here is that a chip is considered positive for lead if the lead content exceeds 5% by weight. This threshold identifies paints with a substantial lead load that require appropriate safety and remediation actions. Therefore, 5% is the defining cutoff; values below 5% don’t meet the positive criterion, while anything above (such as 8%) would be positive too, but the question asks for the threshold value.