Ultrasonic Extraction/Anodic

Stripping Voltammetry for

Determining Lead in Dust:

A Laboratory Evaluation

Walter J. Rossiter, Jr.

Blaza Toman

Mary E. McKnight

Ijeoma Emenanjo

Mana Baghai Anaraki

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control

NISTIR 6998
 

NISTIR 6998

Ultrasonic Extraction/Anodic

Stripping Voltammetry for

Determining Lead in Dust:

A Laboratory Evaluation

Walter J. Rossiter, Jr.*

Blaza Toman**

Mary E. McKnight*

Ijeoma Emenanjo*

Mana Baghai Anaraki*

*

Building and Fire Research Laboratory

**Information Technology Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8615

 September 2004

U.S. Department of Commerce

Donald L. Evans, Secretary

Technology Administration

Phillip J. Bond, Under Secretary for Technology

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Alphonso Jackson, Secretary

Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control

Joseph F. Smith, Deputy Director
iii

ABSTRACT 

Previously published laboratory studies have indicated that ultrasonic extraction/anodic stripping 

voltammetry (UE/ASV) may be suitable for quantitative field analysis of dust wipe samples. 

Nevertheless, on-site lead extraction and analysis of dust wipes by UE/ASV are not currently used 

in federal programs for controlling and abating lead hazards in housing. A reservation to adopting 

UE/ASV is that the effect of the field operator (i.e., the analyst) is unknown. The availability of a 

reliable field test procedure for determining the amount of lead in dust could allow for on-site 

extraction and analysis. Thus, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) 

sponsored a study to evaluate the effect of operator when certified lead risk assessors or inspectors, 

trained to conduct UE/ASV analyses, performed such analyses of laboratory-prepared dust wipe 

specimens using commercial, field-portable apparatus. 

Four operators analyzed 640 dust wipe specimens following a test protocol developed in accordance 

with the UE/ASV apparatus instructions. These specimens were prepared using four commercial 

wipes spiked with one of six lead-containing certified reference materials (CRMs). Six lead levels 

spanned a range from 0 μg to 2000 μg. After UE extraction, the solutions were either filtered or not 

filtered before conducting the ASV analyses. Key findings from these analyses were that lead 

recoveries were quite variable, ranging from < 20 % to > 100 % depending upon the combination of 

experimental variables, and only 42 % of the specimens spiked with a CRM afforded quantitative 

recovery defined as falling within the range of 100 % ± 20 %. When the entire data set was 

analyzed, all experimental variables had a significant effect on recovery. The majority of the twoway interaction effects were also significant. The operator effect was essentially associated with 

three of the four operators determining higher lead recoveries than the fourth. The three operators 

reporting the higher recoveries followed a test protocol that was a slight modification of that used 

by the fourth operator. It was not determined whether this modification accounted for the observed 

operator effect. 

To provide data regarding the role of extraction and ASV measurement in the low recoveries, the 

lead concentrations of a limited number of UE extracts were analyzed using inductively coupled 

plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectrometry. A key finding was that wipe type had an effect on lead 

recovery when determined using either ICP or ASV analyses of the UE extract solutions. In 

addition, one wipe may have produced an interferant(s) to ASV analysis. 

Based on the study results, a main conclusion is that the UE/ASV test procedure lacked robustness 

for analyzing dust wipe specimens. That is, it was found that changes in the experimental variables 

incorporated in the study design could lead to low lead recoveries. Future investigations should 

address improving robustness. 

Key Words: analysis; anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV); building technology; dust wipes; leadcontaining dust; lead recovery; operator effect; testing; ultrasonic extraction (UE) 
iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page

ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................................... iii

1. INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1 

1.1 Background ..............................................................................................................................1 

1.2 Objective and Scope of the Study ............................................................................................2

2. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN...........................................................................................................4

3. EXPERIMENTAL ..........................................................................................................................5 

3.1 UE/ASV Apparatus ..................................................................................................................5 

3.1.1 ASV Instrument .............................................................................................................5 

3.1.2 Sonicator ........................................................................................................................5 

3.2 Dust Wipe Specimens ..............................................................................................................6 

3.3 UE/ASV Protocol.....................................................................................................................8 

3.4 NLLAP Analysis ......................................................................................................................8

4. RESULTS, ANALYSIS, AND DISCUSSION...............................................................................8 

4.1 Controls and Blanks .................................................................................................................8 

4.2 The Main Experiment.............................................................................................................10 

4.2.1 Results..........................................................................................................................10 

4.2.2 Analysis and Discussion ..............................................................................................10 

4.2.3 Summary of the Main Experiment...............................................................................22 

4.3 The ASV/ICP Comparison.....................................................................................................23 

4.3.1 Summary of the ASV/ICP Comparison.......................................................................26

5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................................26

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.............................................................................................................28

7. REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................28

APPENDIX A. LEAD RECOVERY FOR COMBINATIONS OF WIPE AND CRM ..................A1

APPENDIX B. CRM MASS EFFECT ON LEAD RECOVERY ................................................... B1

APPENDIX C. ANALYSIS BY CRM TYPE ................................................................................. C1 
v

LIST OF TABLES 

Page

Table 1. Experimental variables.......................................................................................................3

Table 2. Mass of CRM spiked onto the wipes at each lead level.....................................................4

Table 3. Certified reference materials (CRMs) used in the study ....................................................5

Table 4. Results of RTI analyses of selected dust wipe specimens .................................................7

Table 5. Summary of the steps of the UE/ASV protocol used for analyzing dust wipe 

specimens ...........................................................................................................................9

Table 6. Lead recovery for each combination of experimental variables for Wipe No. 1 .............15

Table 7. Lead recovery for each combination of experimental variables for Wipe No. 2 .............16

Table 8. Lead recovery for each combination of experimental variables for Wipe No. 3 .............17

Table 9. Lead recovery for each combination of experimental variables for Wipe No. 4 .............18

Table 10. Analysis of variance of the entire data set........................................................................20

Table 11. Comparison of recoveries as measured............................................................................25

Table A1. Lead recovery determined by Operator 1 for each combination of wipe and CRM.......A1

Table A2. Lead recovery determined by Operator 2 for each combination of wipe and CRM.......A2

Table A3. Lead recovery determined by Operator 3 for each combination of wipe and CRM.......A3

Table A4. Lead recovery determined by Operator 4 for each combination of wipe and CRM.......A4

Table A5. Number of combinations of wipe and CRM providing mean.........................................A4

Table B1. Groupings of mass levels for use in the analysis............................................................. B2

Table C1. Analysis of variance for each Certified Reference Material data set.............................. C1 
vi

LIST OF FIGURES 

Page 

Figure 1. Results of the UE/ASV Analyses of the CRM 01450 Controls, Which Were 

Prepared Without Dust Wipes Present............................................................................10

Figure 2. Results for Operator 1 Using: (A) Wipe 1, (B) Wipe 2, (C) Wipe 3, and (D) Wipe 4...11

Figure 3. Results for Operator 2 Using: (A) Wipe 1, (B) Wipe 2, (C) Wipe 3, and (D) Wipe 4...12

Figure 4. Results for Operator 3 Using: (A) Wipe 1, (B) Wipe 2, (C) Wipe 3, and (D) Wipe 4...13

Figure 5. Results for Operator 4 Using: (A) Wipe 1, (B) Wipe 2, (C) Wipe 3, and (D) Wipe 4...14

Figure 6. Comparison of Lead Recovery Measured by the Operators Using ASV with That 

Measured by the NLLAP Laboratory Using ICP: (A) Operator 1, (B) Operator 2, 

(C) Operator 3, and (D) Operator 4 ................................................................................24

Figure B1. Lead Recovery as Related to CRM Mass and Wipe Type: (A) Operator 1, 

(B) Operator 2, (C) Operator 3, and (D) Operator 4...................................................... B1 
1

1. INTRODUCTION 

1.1 Background

Lead in dust is a major source of lead exposure in young children [1]. Consequently, sampling and 

lead analysis of settled dust is integral to identifying, abating, and controlling hazards associated 

with the presence of lead in and around housing. Sampling is generally performed by manually 

wiping a surface with a disposable towellette, called a dust wipe, that has been moistened with a 

wetting agent. ASTM E 1728, “Standard Practice for Collection of Settled Dust Samples Using 

Wipe Sampling Methods for Subsequent Lead Determination,” describes standardized surfacewiping methods [2]. ASTM E 1792, “Standard Specification for Wipe Sampling Materials for Lead 

in Surface Dust,” sets performance requirements for dust wipes [3]. 

Analytical methods currently used for extraction and analysis of lead in dust wipes are not readily 

field-portable. Thus, there is a need for a method that provides on-site, quantitative results. For 

example, in a situation where a housing unit has been vacated during lead-abatement activities, reoccupancy might be allowed sooner if on-site dust analyses, among other indicators, show the unit 

to be safe for reentry than if the wipes were sent to a laboratory. 

On-site lead extraction and analysis of dust wipes are not currently used in federal programs for 

identifying, abating, and controlling lead hazards in housing. The availability of a reliable field test 

procedure for determining the amount of lead in dust could allow for re-examination of this 

limitation. Results of previous research have suggested that field portable ultrasonic 

extraction/anodic stripping voltammetry (UE/ASV) has the potential for such use [4-7]. In 1999, 

Ashley, Song, Esch, Schlecht, Baron, and Wise [4] directed an interlaboratory evaluation of the 

suitability of UE/ASV for measuring lead in environmental media including dust. A main 

conclusion was that the UE/ASV procedure was effective in quantifying lead in the media 

examined. In a follow-up 2001study, Ashley, Wise, Mercado, and Parry [5] spiked four 

commercial dust wipes with one of four lead-containing powdered Certified Reference Materials*

(CRMs) including three NIST† Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). After extracting lead from 

the wipes using ultrasonication, the UE extracts, either with or without filtering through 0.45 μm 

hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) filters, were subjected to ASV analyses. Filtration was 

included as an experimental variable to examine whether it enhanced lead recovery through removal 

of organic material (introduced from the wipe), including surfactants or other potential ASV 

interferants‡

 that were possibly present in the wipes. Ashley et al. [5] found that all four CRMs 

without dust wipes present provided quantitative lead recovery (i.e., within the range of 100 % 

± 20 %) either with or without filtration of the extract solutions. In contrast, lead recovery from 

dust wipe specimens varied with the combinations of wipe, CRM, and filter treatment. Specifically, 

they found that, for one wipe, recoveries varied depending upon the combination of wipe and CRM, 

were generally less than quantitative, and were not improved by filtering. For two other wipes, 

recoveries also varied depending upon the combination of wipe and CRM, and were generally less 

than quantitative unless filtering was performed. For the fourth wipe, no matter the CRM used, 

recovery was always quantitative with or without filtering. The authors [5] concluded that three 

 

*

 A Certified Reference Material is “a reference material accompanied by a certificate, one or more of whose property 

values are certified by a procedure that establishes its traceability to an accurate realization of the unit in which the 

property values are expressed” [8]. CRM is the generic term used in this report to denote all certified reference 

materials including NIST Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). 

†

 National Institute of Standards and Technology 

‡

 An interferant is a species in the sample that affects the results (i.e., causes interference) of the analyte measurement. 

The interferant may not prevent the analyte measurement, but causes a bias to the measurement of the analyte 

concentration. 
2

wipes were suitable for UE/ASV provided that filtering of the UE extract was always included in 

the test procedure. The recommendation for universal filtering was made as a precautionary 

measure to maximize the chance of quantitative recovery. 

 

Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the results of two similar 

studies that examined the performance of ASV methods for analyzing lead in dust wipe specimens 

[6,7]. These studies were conducted under EPA’s Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) 

Program, which has as its mission “to facilitate the deployment of innovative or improved 

environmental technologies through performance verification...” In these studies, directed by Oak 

Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), two commercial ASV instruments were used to determine 

recoveries from wipes spiked with lead-containing CRMs. The ASV-measured recoveries were 

compared with those measured by a National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) 

laboratory [9] using a referee measurement method. Other parameters used to evaluate performance 

included precision, and the determination of false positive and false negative results at regulatorymandated lead levels. For one apparatus, it was reported that “the overall performance [of the 

instrument] for the analysis of lead in dust wipe samples was characterized as having an acceptable 

amount of negative bias, very precise, and has a strong linear relationship with the NLLAPlaboratory results” [6]. For the other apparatus, it was reported that “the overall performance [of the 

instrument] for the analysis of lead in dust wipe samples was characterized as biased low but within 

acceptable levels of bias, having greater than acceptable levels of variability, and in good linear 

agreement with the average results reported by the NLLAP laboratory” [7]. 

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has interest in test methods that 

may be used to determine lead contents at housing sites. One reservation to adopting field portable 

test methods is that the effect of operator (i.e., the analyst) on the reliability of the field analyses is 

generally not known or demonstrated in analytical studies carried out to evaluate the technology. 

Lead risk assessors and inspectors, who are potential users of field methods (i.e., the operators), 

may have less skill in conducting lead analyses than chemists and laboratory technicians who 

participate in evaluation studies. In response to concerns over operator effects on field test 

reliability, NIST has performed HUD-sponsored studies to examine operator effects on spot test kits 

and on ASV analyses for detecting and determining lead in paint in the field [10-13]. Until the 

present study, operator effect on the reliability of ASV analyses of dust wipe specimens had not 

been addressed in an experiment in which lead risk assessors or inspectors performed the analyses. 

Operators conducting the dust-wipe tests in the studies cited above [4-7] were generally trained 

professionals who may be arguably atypical of the risk assessors and inspectors who would use the 

ASV dust wipe method in practice. For example, one of the ETV reports [6] indicated “the analyst 

who operated the instrument during the verification test was a ... expert.” The other ETV report [7] 

stated that “during the test, one analyst that operated the [instrument] was an expert, and the other 

was a novice.” 

1.2 Objective and Scope of the Study

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of operator when commercial, field-portable 

ultrasonic extraction/anodic stripping voltammetry (UE/ASV) was used for quantitatively 

determining the lead level of laboratory-prepared dust wipe specimens in testing performed by 

certified lead risk assessors or inspectors trained to conduct UE/ASV analyses. Four other 

experimental variables were also examined: dust wipe, CRM type, lead level, and filter treatment of 

the UE extract before ASV analysis. Table 1 lists the five experimental variables. In this report, the 

phase of the study in which lead risk assessors or inspectors conducted the analyses of the dust wipe 

specimens is referred to as the “Main Experiment.” In addition to the Main Experiment, a limited 
3

Table 1. Experimental variables 

Experimental 

Variable Description Comment 

Operator Four operators: 

• Operator 1 (Op 1) 

• Operator 2 (Op 2) 

• Operator 3 (Op 3) 

• Operator 4 (Op 4) 

Four certified lead inspectors and risk assessors, 

previously trained to perform UE/ASV analyses of paint 

samples, conducted the dust wipe analyses. They were 

further trained at NIST to conduct dust wipe analyses. 

Dust Wipe Four commercial dust wipes: 

• Wipe 1 

• Wipe 2 

• Wipe 3 

• Wipe 4 

The dust wipes were reported by the suppliers to meet 

ASTM Specification E 1792-96, “Wipe Sampling 

Materials for Lead in Surface Dust” [3]. E 1792-96 was 

the version of the standard specification that was in effect 

at the time when the study was designed. 

Certified Reference 

Material (CRM) 

Six certified reference materials: 

• SRM 2580 

• SRM 2581 

• SRM 2582 

• SRM 2584 

• SRM 2586 

• CRM 01450 

In designing the study, it was originally intended to 

include four CRMs (i.e., SRM 2581, SRM 2584, 

SRM 2586, and CRM 01450). However, it was not 

practical to use only four CRMs. With the wide range of 

lead levels targeted in the experimental design (i.e., 

40 μg to 2000 μg), the amount of CRM to be spiked onto 

a wipe would be too little in the case of SRM 2584 at the 

lead level of 40 μg, and excessive in the case of SRM 

2586 at the lead level of 2000 μg. Table 2 summarizes 

the specimen mass at which each CRM was spiked onto 

the wipes for the various lead levels. Table 3 lists the 

CRM types, the percent lead by mass fraction, and a 

summary of the results of multiple UE/ASV analyses of 

each CRM. 

Lead Level Six lead levels: 

• 0 μg 

• 40 μg 

• 90 μg 

• 250 μg 

• 500 μg 

• 2000 μg 

Lead levels spanned the range from 0 μg to 2000 μg, 

with the 0 μg level being the designation assigned to 

wipes that were not spiked with CRM. These lead levels 

bracketed the range of interest in federal regulations on 

lead hazard abatement. In designing the study, it was 

originally planned to include five lead levels (no 90 μg 

level). However, it was considered that the small amount 

of SRM 2581 (i.e., ≈ 9 mg) that would have been 

weighed on a wipe at the 20 μg level might result in mass 

measurements having relatively large uncertainty. Thus, 

for SRM 2581, the 90 μg lead level was included in lieu 

of the 40 μg lead level (Table 2). 

Filter Treatment 

Before Extract 

Analysis 

Two treatments of the UE extract 

before ASV analysis: 

• No filtering (i.e., common 

practice) 

• Filtering 

Ashley et al. [5] have recommended that filtering of the 

UE extract solution should be performed before ASV 

analysis, because it may enhance lead recovery by 

removing ASV interferants from the extract solution. 

Consistent with their recommendation, filtering through a 

0.45 μm hydrophilic PTFE filter was included in the 

experimental design. 

number of UE extracts was analyzed using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission 

spectrometry. The results of these measurements were compared with the ASV results obtained in 

the Main Experiment. This phase of the study is referred to as the “ASV/ICP Comparison.” 
4

2. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN 

A full factorial experimental design that included four operators, four dust wipes, four CRM Types, 

five lead levels, and two filtering treatments of the UE extract solution was planned for the 

investigation. Practical constraints such as availability and percent lead were taken into account in 

selecting the CRMs. The four CRMs initially considered for the experiments were SRM 2581, 

SRM 2584, and SRM 2586, and CRM 01450. These included two dust samples (SRMs 2584 and 

CRM 01450), a powdered paint sample (SRM 2581) and a powdered soil sample (SRM 2586). 

Lead-containing paints and soils can be a source of lead in dust in housing. Of the four CRMs 

considered for the design, only CRM 01450 had a lead content (i.e., percent lead by mass fraction) 

that made it practical to prepare dust wipe specimens having lead levels spanning the selected range 

of 40 μg to 2000 μg (Table 1). If SRM 2584 were used at the 40 μg lead level, only about 4 mg 

would have been spiked onto the wipes. Consequently, SRM 2582 was included in the design for 

the 40 μg lead level. Similarly, use of SRM 2586 at the 2000 μg lead level would have required 

depositing about 4.5 g onto a wipe. In this case, SRM 2580 was included for the 2000 μg lead 

level. In addition, if SRM 2581 were used at the 40 μg lead level, less than 10 mg would have been 

deposited onto a wipe. Consequently, 90 μg was the lowest lead level incorporated in the design for 

SRM 2581. Table 2 summaries the amount of CRM spiked onto a wipe for each combination of 

CRM type and lead level. Note that 20 mg was the least amount of CRM used in the design. 

The number of UE/ASV analyses conducted by one operator in a test series was 186. Each series 

was comprised of 160 randomly sequenced dust wipe specimens, 13 control specimens, and 13 

method blanks. A set of seven dust wipe specimens could be simultaneously extracted using the 

sonicator supplied with the ASV instrument. For each test series, every set of seven specimens 

included either a control or a method blank, with the first sonication set having a control. The 

controls were samples of CRM 01450 (about 100 mg) that were placed in sonicator tubes without a 

wipe present. They were included as a periodic check that analyses of specimens without a wipe 

present provided recoveries that were within acceptable bounds, when the tests were performed 

using the UE/ASV dust wipe protocol (Section 3.3). Method blanks consisted of performing the 

UE/ASV procedure without a specimen. They were used to monitor background levels and check 

for contamination. 

Table 2. Mass of CRM spiked onto the wipes at each lead level 

 Targeted Mass of CRM Spiked onto the Wipes at Each Lead Level 

CRM 

Designation 

Lead Level

40 μg 

Lead Level

90 μg 

Lead Level

250 μg 

Lead Level

500 μg 

Lead Level

2000 μg 

SRM 2580 ---a --- --- --- 46 mg 

SRM 2581 --- 20 mg 56 mg 111 mg 445 mg 

SRM 2582 192 mg --- --- --- --- 

SRM 2584 --- --- 26 mg 51 mg 205 mg 

SRM 2586 93 mg --- 579 mg 1157 mg --- 

CRM 01450 21 mg --- 131 mg 261 mg 1045 mg a The dash indicates that specimens were not prepared for the combination of CRM and lead level. 
5

3. EXPERIMENTAL 

3.1 UE/ASV Apparatus

A commercial, field-portable UE/ASV apparatus* was used in the study. It was designated 

Apparatus 1 in the initial NIST UE/ASV study [11]. 

3.1.1 ASV Instrument. The field-portable ASV instrument is battery operated, uses disposable 

electrodes, and is factory-calibrated. Results of analyses of dust wipe specimens are given in units 

of micrograms (μg). The range of detection for lead in dust wipe specimens reported in the 

instrument instruction booklet is 25 μg to 1500 μg. For specimens found to have lead levels 

exceeding this range, dilution of the UE extract is performed before ASV re-analysis. The 

uncertainty of the ASV measurements based on the pooled standard deviation of the results of all 

analyses of CRM specimens using the protocol in Section 3.3 but without a dust wipe present 

(summary given in Table 3) was estimated to be 7.3 %. Lead recovery (LR %) measured in an 

UE/ASV analysis of a dust wipe specimen was calculated using the following formula: 

 LR % = (UE/ASV Result/Estimated True Lead Value) x 100. 

Factory calibration of the ASV instrument was checked in the previous NIST UE/ASV paint studies 

[11-13]. A repeat calibration check performed at the beginning of the current study using six 

standardized lead nitrate solutions (7.5 % volume fraction nitric acid with lead contents ranging 

from 1 mg/L to 28 mg/L) confirmed that the instrument has remained in calibration. The ASV 

response versus lead concentration was linear (r2

 = 0.998). In addition, at the beginning and end of 

each day’s analyses, operators performed two calibration checks using two standardized solutions of 

lead nitrate (7.5 % volume fraction nitric acid with lead contents of 1 mg/L and 28 mg/L). These 

daily checks indicated that the ASV instrument remained in calibration, and that instrument drift 

over the course of the day did not occur. 

3.1.2 Sonicator. The commercial sonicator is specified as having an average power of 45 W. The 

bath dimensions are 146 mm by 133 mm by 100 mm (length, width, and depth). 

Table 3. Certified reference materials (CRMs) used in the study 

Certified Reference Material Results of UE/ASV Analysesa 

 Lead Mass Fraction Lead Recovery, % CoVd

Designation Material Type % nb Min Max Mean SDc % 

SRM 2580 Powdered Paint 4.34 6 90.1 96.3 93.0 2.1 2.2 

SRM 2581 Powdered Paint 0.449 8 57.9 96.7 85.6 12.1 14.2 

SRM 2582 Powdered Paint 0.02088 6 92.2 97.7 94.4 1.8 1.9 

SRM 2584 Indoor Dust 0.9761 8 74.2 92.6 83.7 6.5 7.8 

SRM 2586 Powdered Soil 0.0432 6 89.4 104.6 95.5 5.3 5.5 

CRM 01450 Bag House Dust 0.1914 8 85.6 109.6 100.2 8.3 8.3 

a

 The analyses were performed using the protocol in Section 3.3; the CRM specimens were prepared without 

 dust wipes. 

b

 Number of analyses. 

c

 SD indicates standard deviation. 

d

 CoV indicates coefficient of variation (standard deviation/mean*100) 

 

*

 In this report, the term, “apparatus,” refers to the combination of UE sonicator and ASV electrochemical instrument 

that was purchased from a single supplier as part of a field-portable kit. For the individual pieces of equipment, the 

terms, “[UE] sonicator” and “[ASV] instrument” are used. 
6

3.2 Dust Wipe Specimens

The dust wipe specimens were prepared by the Research Triangle Institute (RTI)* using a 

gravimetric procedure in which one of the six CRMs (Table 2) was loaded onto one of four 

commercial, individually packaged dust wipe products. RTI has used the gravimetric procedure for 

preparing dust wipe specimens for use in the Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing 

(ELPAT) Program [14]. Gravimetrically prepared specimens were also used in the EPA ETV 

studies on UE/ASV analysis of dust wipe specimens [6,7]. 

Table 3 lists the CRM types, which were in general different from those used in the previously 

referenced studies [4-7]. Table 3 also summarizes the results of UE/ASV analyses conducted on 

specimens prepared without dust wipes and analyzed without filtering of the UE extracts. The 

mean recovery for each of the six CRMs was quantitative. 

RTI furnished 640 dust wipe specimens for analysis by the 4 operators in the Main Experiment. An 

additional 35 specimens were prepared for quality control analysis by RTI. In preparing a dust wipe 

specimen, RTI deposited onto a wipe the appropriate amount of CRM as specified in the 

experimental design (Table 2). Only one analytical balance was used for all CRM weighings. A 

single 0.1 g Class 1 weight was used for a daily calibration check before and after each weighing 

period. Prior to weighing, the bulk container of CRM was tumbled several times. Floating dust in 

the container was then allowed to settle before opening it. CRM was taken using a spatula and 

transferred to a tared sheet of weighing paper. If more CRM was needed, it was taken from the bulk 

container and added to the material on the weighing paper. If excess CRM was placed on the paper, 

it was carefully removed with the tip of the spatula and discarded. Wipes were prepared for 

receiving the CRM by opening the packaging, removing the wet folded wipe, and squeezing excess 

moisture out by hand over a trash can. The wipe was then unfolded and briefly set on a laboratory 

paper towel that soaked up excess moisture. The wipe was then transferred to a flat plastic board to 

await the CRM. The weighing paper containing the pre-weighed CRM was removed from the 

balance and the CRM was gently tapped onto the center of the wipe. The wipe was then folded and 

placed in a 50 mL plastic centrifuge tube, which was capped and labeled. The amount of lead in 

each dust wipe specimen (i.e., estimated true value) was taken as the mass of CRM weighed onto a 

wipe multiplied by the certified % mass fraction lead in the CRM. 

All tubes containing the dust wipe specimens were stored at RTI in a cold room to retard possible 

mold growth until shipment to NIST. Upon arrival at NIST, they were kept in a refrigerator until 

about 48 h before use during which time they warmed to room temperature. 

The 35 dust wipe specimens analyzed by RTI were typical combinations of wipe, CRM type, and 

lead level used to prepare the specimens analyzed by the four operators in the Main Experiment. 

The RTI analyses were performed in accordance with the acid digestion process and inductively 

coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectrometry method by which RTI has measured lead in 

dust wipe specimens included in the ELPAT Program [14]. Based on experience from the ELPAT 

Program, expected lead recoveries from such analysis of gravimetrically prepared dust wipe 

specimens are, on the average, about 87 % or 88 %†

. The results of the present RTI analyses are 

 

*

 Certain trade names or company products are mentioned in the text to specify adequately the test specimens, 

experimental procedure and equipment used. In no case does such identification imply recommendation or 

endorsement by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, nor does it imply that the equipment is the best 

available for the purpose. 

†

 Personal communication from RTI’s Dr. David Binstock. 
7

given in Table 4, which shows that the lead recoveries ranged from 75 % to 118 %. The mean 

recovery for all analyses was 92 % (11.5 % CoV*

), which was consistent with past ELPAT 

experience. 

 Table 4. Results of RTI analyses of selected dust wipe specimens 

Specimen 

ID 

Wipe 

No. 

CRM 

No. 

Lead Level

μg 

Lead Recovery

% 

RTI S01 1 SRM 2581 90 75.3 

RTI S02 1 SRM 2581 500 86.6 

RTI S03 1 SRM 2584 500 102.2 

RTI S04 1 SRM 2584 2000 85.6 

RTI S05 1 SRM 2586 40 93.5 

RTI S06 1 SRM 2586 250 76.0 

RTI S07 1 CRM 01450 40 89.8 

RTI S08 1 CRM 01450 500 111.8 

RTI S09 1 CRM 01450 2000 101.9 

RTI S10 2 SRM 2580 2000 84.6 

RTI S11 2 SRM 2581 90 87.8 

RTI S12 2 SRM 2581 500 102.7 

RTI S13 2 SRM 2581 2000 98.3 

RTI S14 2 SRM 2582 40 78.0 

RTI S15 2 SRM 2584 250 76.7 

RTI S16 2 SRM 2586 250 79.6 

RTI S17 2 CRM 01450 40 102.0 

RTI S18 2 CRM 01450 2000 103.5 

RTI S19 3 SRM 2580 2000 79.5 

RTI S20 3 SRM 2581 90 87.8 

RTI S21 3 SRM 2581 250 82.7 

RTI S22 3 SRM 2584 250 78.6 

RTI S23 3 SRM 2584 500 97.2 

RTI S24 3 SRM 2586 500 97.2 

RTI S25 3 CRM 01450 250 101.5 

RTI S26 3 CRM 01450 500 118.7 

RTI S27 4 SRM 2581 90 88.4 

RTI S28 4 SRM 2581 250 82.1 

RTI S29 4 SRM 2581 2000 92.6 

RTI S30 4 SRM 2582 40 75.1 

RTI S31 4 SRM 2584 2000 97.1 

RTI S32 4 SRM 2586 40 110.1 

RTI S33 4 SRM 2586 500 91.9 

RTI S34 4 CRM 01450 40 104.0 

RTI S35 4 CRM 01450 250 101.3 

 

*

 Coefficient of variation (std. dev./mean x 100). 
8

3.3 UE/ASV Protocol

The operators, who were lead risk assessors and inspectors, performed the analyses at NIST. Their 

work schedules determined the sequence in which each came to NIST. They performed the 

analyses according to a written protocol developed from the instructions for the UE/ASV apparatus 

(Table 5). The protocol was reviewed by the UE/ASV supplier to ensure that the extraction and 

analysis procedures were consistent with the apparatus instructions. Additional steps were included 

for completeness. For example, the supplier’s instructions were not specific regarding steps to be 

taken in selecting and labeling the test specimens, and did not address formats for recording data. 

One deviation from the apparatus instructions was that the extraction was performed with warm tap 

water (≈ 45 °C) in the sonicator bath. Use of warm water was based on the results of previous NIST 

studies showing that lead recovery from laboratory-prepared paint film specimens was enhanced at 

higher bath temperatures [12,13]. Another deviation was that, for half of the specimens tested by an 

operator, the extract solutions were filtered using a Millipore PTFE 0.45 mm filter. This procedure 

was incorporated to be consistent with the recommendation of Ashley et al. [5] on filtering UE 

extracts to help ensure reliable ASV analysis. 

 

All operators had been previously trained (receiving a certificate) to conduct UE/ASV analyses. 

For the current study, before beginning a series of tests, NIST research staff reviewed the dust wipe 

protocol with each operator. Importance was placed on the procedures in the protocol that differed 

from those for paint analysis such as Step 2d and Step 3e (Table 5) that focused on mixing the 

specimen in the acid solution. “Training specimens” were provided to the operators. 

 3.4 NLLAP Analysis

During the course of the operators’ analyses, aliquots (≈ 20 mL) of selected UE extract solutions 

were sent to a National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program (NLLAP) [9] laboratory that was 

accredited for lead analysis. Lead concentration was determined using inductively coupled plasma 

(ICP) atomic emission spectrometry according to EPA Method 6010B [15]. 

4. RESULTS, ANALYSIS, AND DISCUSSION 

4.1 Controls and Blanks

Figure 1 shows the UE/ASV results for the CRM 01450 control specimens in the sequence in which 

the operators performed the analyses. All recoveries were quantitative with slightly more than 80 % 

of the tests yielding recoveries between 100 % to 110 %. The mean recovery was 106 % (5.3 % 

CoV), which was not statistically different (0.05 level) from the mean value for CRM 01450 (i.e., 

103 %) determined in the preliminary stage of the investigation (Table 3). Analyses of all method 

blanks gave results that were “below the detection limit,” indicating that measurable contamination 

had not occurred with these specimens. 
9

Table 5. Summary of the steps of the UE/ASV protocol used for analyzing dust wipe specimens 

Stepa Summary of the Activities for Each Step 

1. Specimen Selection a. Obtain a sample tube from the storage rack following the sequence of “Test Sample ID 

Numbers” on the data form. 

b. Check that the “Test Sample ID Number” on the data form is the same as that on the tube. 

c. Write the “Test Sample ID Number” and the “Test Sample Letter Code” on the tube cap. 

2. Specimen 

Acidification 

a. Place a new (clean) disposable tip on the 5 mL pipettor. 

b. Using the pipettor, add 15 mL (3 x 5 mL) of 25 % volume fraction nitric acid to the sample 

tube; dispose of the pipettor tip. 

c. Write the “Test Sample ID Number” on a new (clean) plastic sample-stirring rod. 

d. Use this stirring rod to push the dust wipe down into the sonicator tube. Ensure that the 

dust wipe is covered with acid solution. Keep pushing the wipe down into the acid 

solution until trapped air bubbles in the wipe have been released and until the acid solution 

appears cloudy from the dust residue. 

e. Set aside the stirring rod for re-use ensuring that it is kept clean. 

f. Re-cap the sonicator tube. 

3. Specimen Extraction 

Using the Sonicator 

a. Add warm (≈ 45 °C) tap water to the ridge (i.e. mark) in the sonicator bath. 

b. Position the cover on the sonicator bath, and place the specimen tube into the randomly 

selected (i.e., numbered) hole such that the tube cap rests on the bath cover. 

c. Place a weight on top of the sonicator tube to prevent floating. 

d. Sonicate the specimen for 30 min and remove it from the bath. 

e. Take the previously used stirring rod (ensure that it correctly corresponds to the tube 

sample number) and repeat the stirring of the dust wipe in the sample tube. 

f. Re-cap the sample tube and replace it in the bath; set the stirring rod aside such that it will 

not be contaminated. 

g. Sonicate for an additional 15 min. 

h. Take the sonicated specimen/tube and, after removing the cap, carefully add distilled water 

to the 50 mL mark; do not fill over this mark during dilution. 

i. Replace the cap on the sample tube and mix the diluted extract well by shaking. 

j. Take the same stirring rod as previously used for the given specimen and thoroughly stir 

the wipe and solution to ensure mixing of the diluted extract. 

k. Replace the cap on the sonicator tube and shake the tube vigorously for at least 15 s. 

l. Allow the diluted extract solution to cool to room temperature before ASV analysis. 

4. Preparation of Extract 

Solution for Analysis 

a. Add an electrolyte tablet into a 5 mL analysis vial; crush the tablet with a tablet-crushing 

rod; using an indelible marking pen, mark the “Test Sample ID Number” (written on the 

sample tube) on the outside of the analysis vial. 

b. Take a 10 mL disposable plastic syringe and draw 5 mL of the diluted extract solution 

from the sample tube into the syringe. 

c. Check the data form to determine whether the diluted extract solution is to be filtered. 

d. If the solution is not to be filtered, dispense the diluted extract solution directly from the 

syringe into the ID-marked analysis vial, filling to the 5 mL mark. 

e. If the solution is to be filtered, place a Millipore PTFE 0.45 mm filter on the tip of the 

syringe; dispense the diluted extract solution from the syringe through the filter and into 

the ID-marked analysis vial, filling to the 5 mL mark. 

f. Re-cap the analysis vial and gently shake to ensure that the crushed tablet is dissolved. 

5. Extract Analysis a. Place a disposable electrode into the electrode connector; grip the electrode by the edges or 

through the foil packaging only; do not touch exposed electrodes. 

b. Perform the lead analysis according to the instructions for operation of the ASV 

instrument. 

c. Record the analysis result (in μg) on the NIST-provided data form along with the analysis 

ID number assigned by the ASV instrument. 

d. If the analysis result is “above the instrument range,” using the 1 mL pipettor, dilute the 

extract solution (1 mL with 4 mL of 7.5 % volume fraction nitric acid), either with or 

without filtering as indicated on the data form, and repeat the analysis; record the result of 

this repeated analysis on the data form. a In following the protocol, each step was performed on a set of seven dust wipe specimens, because seven specimens 

 can be extracted simultaneously using the sonicator supplied with the ASV instrument. 
10

Figure 1. Results of the UE/ASV Analyses of the CRM 01450 Controls, Which Were Prepared 

Without Dust Wipes Present. The data are given in the sequence in which the operators 

performed the tests. The data symbol is the operator number. 

4.2 The Main Experiment

4.2.1 Results. The results of the UE/ASV analyses of the dust wipe specimens for Operators 1 

through 4 are plotted in Figures 2 through 5, respectively. Each plot shows lead recovery (%) 

versus specimen lead level for a given combination of operator and wipe. The plot symbols denote 

analyses performed with and without filtering of the extract solution. Tables 6 through 9 include 

lead recovery for all combinations of experimental variables for each of the four wipes. For those 

readers who have interest in the effects of combinations of operator, wipe, and CRM type, 

Appendix A summarizes lead recovery for those combinations. 

4.2.2 Analysis and Discussion. The data in Figures 2 through 5, and Tables 6 through 9 indicate 

that lead recovery was quite variable and depended on the combination of experimental variables. 

This finding was consistent with that of Ashley et al. [5], who found variable recovery depending 

upon the combination of wipe, CRM, and filter treatment used in the analysis. Most notable in the 

current study, lead recovery for a majority of the dust wipe specimens was less than quantitative. 

This finding was in marked contrast with previously published results [4-7] wherein the majority of 

the UE/ASV analyses were quantitative, particularly when filtering was used. The low recoveries 

in the current study also contrasted with the results of the analyses of CRM specimens prepared 

without wipes that were, on average, always quantitative (Table 3). 

For the 512 CRM-containing specimens analyzed by the operators, quantitative recovery occurred 

for 213 specimens (i.e., 42 %) and varied among the operators (statistical analysis follows below). 

Operators 1 and 3 had the highest percent quantitative recovery; 52 % of their analyses provided 

quantitative results. Operator 2 was intermediate at 43 %, while Operator 4 was lowest at 20 %. 

The mean recovery for all specimens* was 74 % with values for specimens analyzed by Operators 1 

through 3 ranging from 75 % to 80 %. In contrast, the mean recovery for Operator 4 was 

significantly less (0.05 level) at 63 %. 

 

*

 Not including those having results recorded as “below the detection limit.” 

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4444

4

4

11

1

1

1

11

11

1

13

3

33

3

3

3

3

3

2

2

2

22

22

2

2

222

2

3

3

3

3

11

70

80

90

100

110

120

0 10 20 30 40 50

TEST NUMBER

LEAD RECOVERY, %
11

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 1 -- Wipe 3

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(C)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 1 -- Wipe 1

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(A)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 1 -- Wipe 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(B)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 1 -- Wipe 4

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(D)

Figure 2. Results for Operator 1 Using: (A) Wipe 1, (B) Wipe 2, (C) Wipe 3, and (D) Wipe 4. Data 

points above the horizontal bold line at 80 % recovery represent quantitative recovery. 
12

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 2 -- Wipe 1

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(A)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 2 -- Wipe 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(B)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 2 -- Wipe 3

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(C)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 2 --Wipe 4

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(D)

Figure 3. Results for Operator 2 Using: (A) Wipe 1, (B) Wipe 2, (C) Wipe 3, and (D) Wipe 4. Data 

points above the horizontal bold line at 80 % recovery represent quantitative recovery. 
13

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 3 -- Wipe 1

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(A)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 3 -- Wipe 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(B)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 3 -- Wipe 3

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, 5

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(C)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 3 -- Wipe 4

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, 5

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(D)

Figure 4. Results for Operator 3 Using: (A) Wipe 1, (B) Wipe 2, (C) Wipe 3, and (D) Wipe 4. Data 

points above the horizontal bold line at 80 % recovery represent quantitative recovery. 
14

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 4 -- Wipe 1

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(A)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 4 -- Wipe 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(B)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 4 -- Wipe 3

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(C)

RECOVERY VS LEAD LEVEL

Op 4 -- Wipe 4

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

KNOWN LEAD LEVEL, μg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Without Filtering

With Filtering

(D)

Figure 5. Results for Operator 4 Using: (A) Wipe 1, (B) Wipe 2, (C) Wipe 3, and (D) Wipe 4. Data 

points above the horizontal bold line at 80 % recovery represent quantitative recovery. 
15

Table 6. Lead recovery for each combination of experimental variables for Wipe No. 1 

 UE/ASV Lead Recoveryb, % Wipe 

No. 

CRM 

No. 

Lead 

Levela 

μg 

Filter 

Treatment Op 1 Op 2 Op 3 Op 4 

1 SRM 2580 2000 With Filtering 65.3 84.7 92.4 79.4 

1 SRM 2580 2000 Without Filtering 73.6 90.0 72.7 101.6 

1 SRM 2581 0 With Filtering < < < < 

1 SRM 2581 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

1 SRM 2581 90 With Filtering 81.3 32.0 80.7 86.2 

1 SRM 2581 90 Without Filtering 56.0 66.7 74.2 75.0 

1 SRM 2581 250 With Filtering 98.2 45.4 54.6 51.4 

1 SRM 2581 250 Without Filtering 78.3 83.8 84.1 38.7 

1 SRM 2581 500 With Filtering 70.4 82.0 78.3 54.5 

1 SRM 2581 500 Without Filtering 85.4 58.1 76.6 93.5 

1 SRM 2581 2000 With Filtering 45.5 46.9 45.3 41.5 

1 SRM 2581 2000 Without Filtering 53.5 44.8 41.9 64.6 

1 SRM 2582 40 With Filtering 87.3 72.4 84.9 82.3 

1 SRM 2582 40 Without Filtering 72.4 < 72.5 82.4 

1 SRM 2584 0 With Filtering < < < < 

1 SRM 2584 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

1 SRM 2584 250 With Filtering 79.8 66.3 62.2 64.2 

1 SRM 2584 250 Without Filtering 64.9 61.4 78.7 56.3 

1 SRM 2584 500 With Filtering 75.7 44.3 76.8 78.7 

1 SRM 2584 500 Without Filtering 74.0 58.6 67.7 72.1 

1 SRM 2584 2000 With Filtering 61.6 46.6 39.3 38.6 

1 SRM 2584 2000 Without Filtering 26.0 34.6 58.6 40.7 

1 SRM 2586 0 With Filtering < < < < 

1 SRM 2586 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

1 SRM 2586 40 With Filtering 72.7 67.8 67.7 72.3 

1 SRM 2586 40 Without Filtering 77.9 77.2 75.2 72.5 

1 SRM 2586 250 With Filtering 68.4 60.4 59.6 50.0 

1 SRM 2586 250 Without Filtering 58.0 62.4 65.6 50.8 

1 SRM 2586 500 Without Filtering 50.0 59.8 40.4 49.6 

1 SRM 2586 500 With Filtering 44.0 59.0 60.2 38.2 

1 CRM 01450 0 With Filtering < < < < 

1 CRM 01450 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

1 CRM 01450 40 With Filtering 76.0 82.1 61.3 < 

1 CRM 01450 40 Without Filtering 102.0 72.8 68.8 81.7 

1 CRM 01450 250 With Filtering 43.5 69.9 62.8 51.7 

1 CRM 01450 250 Without Filtering 71.3 64.3 62.3 22.7 

1 CRM 01450 500 Without Filtering 36.9 36.1 27.6 37.0 

1 CRM 01450 500 With Filtering 31.4 62.1 64.1 78.0 

1 CRM 01450 2000 With Filtering 7.2 14.4 6.3 9.3 

1 CRM 01450 2000 Without Filtering 15.6 22.2 19.6 23.1 a

 Wipe specimens with designated lead levels of 0 μg were not spiked with a CRM. 

b

 The less-than symbol (<) indicates that the results were “below the detection limit” of the instrument. 
16

Table 7. Lead recovery for each combination of experimental variables for Wipe No. 2 

 UE/ASV Lead Recoveryb, % Wipe 

No. 

CRM 

No. 

Lead 

Levela 

μg

Filter 

Treatment Op 1 Op 2 Op 3 Op 4 

2 SRM 2580 2000 With Filtering 62.0 72.8 69.3 63.6 

2 SRM 2580 2000 Without Filtering 53.7 99.3 68.7 62.7 

2 SRM 2581 0 With Filtering < < < < 

2 SRM 2581 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

2 SRM 2581 90 With Filtering 57.7 67.6 74.2 43.6 

2 SRM 2581 90 Without Filtering 81.9 63.2 76.8 64.1 

2 SRM 2581 250 With Filtering 76.6 83.7 71.7 55.6 

2 SRM 2581 250 Without Filtering 69.0 72.2 84.8 67.1 

2 SRM 2581 500 With Filtering 70.6 73.7 77.4 32.7 

2 SRM 2581 500 Without Filtering 58.3 66.1 73.2 54.6 

2 SRM 2581 2000 With Filtering 74.0 50.8 64.7 60.1 

2 SRM 2581 2000 Without Filtering 49.0 72.1 69.9 51.2 

2 SRM 2582 40 With Filtering 107.3 92.6 99.8 62.4 

2 SRM 2582 40 Without Filtering 77.4 77.4 67.7 < 

2 SRM 2584 0 With Filtering < < < < 

2 SRM 2584 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

2 SRM 2584 250 With Filtering 63.3 56.9 74.6 54.8 

2 SRM 2584 250 Without Filtering 77.9 44.6 75.8 41.2 

2 SRM 2584 500 With Filtering 76.9 68.6 85.3 74.7 

2 SRM 2584 500 Without Filtering 67.4 63.7 78.9 61.0 

2 SRM 2584 2000 With Filtering 85.0 40.7 58.4 41.4 

2 SRM 2584 2000 Without Filtering 61.6 98.9 67.7 46.8 

2 SRM 2586 0 With Filtering < < < < 

2 SRM 2586 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

2 SRM 2586 40 With Filtering 97.6 92.8 97.4 < 

2 SRM 2586 40 Without Filtering 102.3 89.5 97.1 67.1 

2 SRM 2586 250 With Filtering 83.1 62.0 78.8 63.6 

2 SRM 2586 250 Without Filtering 74.8 73.1 92.8 66.0 

2 SRM 2586 500 With Filtering 70.0 63.4 70.8 52.4 

2 SRM 2586 500 Without Filtering 69.6 71.2 91.2 59.8 

2 CRM 01450 0 With Filtering < < < < 

2 CRM 01450 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

2 CRM 01450 40 With Filtering 63.1 97.5 101.0 76.0 

2 CRM 01450 40 Without Filtering 98.9 87.9 103.0 83.7 

2 CRM 01450 250 With Filtering 69.1 64.8 100.9 54.8 

2 CRM 01450 250 Without Filtering 78.1 57.3 81.6 56.5 

2 CRM 01450 500 With Filtering 44.5 49.3 56.5 39.0 

2 CRM 01450 500 Without Filtering 50.4 50.0 61.9 39.8 

2 CRM 01450 2000 With Filtering 40.1 39.4 24.9 18.1 

2 CRM 01450 2000 Without Filtering 42.9 48.7 39.2 17.2 a

 Wipe specimens with designated lead levels of 0 μg were not spiked with a CRM. 

b

 The less-than symbol (<) indicates that the results were “below the detection limit” of the instrument. 
17

Table 8. Lead recovery for each combination of experimental variables for Wipe No. 3 

 UE/ASV Lead Recoveryb, % Wipe 

No. 

CRM 

No. 

Lead 

Levela 

μg

Filter 

Treatment Op 1 Op 2 Op 3 Op 4 

3 SRM 2580 2000 With Filtering 99.5 104.2 102.6 96.8 

3 SRM 2580 2000 Without Filtering 97.5 109.0 102.5 81.9 

3 SRM 2581 0 With Filtering < < < < 

3 SRM 2581 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

3 SRM 2581 90 With Filtering 92.2 83.5 96.6 54.8 

3 SRM 2581 90 Without Filtering 92.9 88.9 86.2 59.9 

3 SRM 2581 250 With Filtering 97.7 91.3 88.9 77.4 

3 SRM 2581 250 Without Filtering 92.1 89.7 96.0 70.9 

3 SRM 2581 500 With Filtering 97.1 77.4 99.7 72.6 

3 SRM 2581 500 Without Filtering 91.9 82.3 81.8 69.4 

3 SRM 2581 2000 With Filtering 81.7 68.8 92.7 47.8 

3 SRM 2581 2000 Without Filtering 113.0 49.6 56.7 65.0 

3 SRM 2582 40 With Filtering 102.4 92.3 97.5 87.6 

3 SRM 2582 40 Without Filtering 102.5 92.6 94.9 87.5 

3 SRM 2584 0 With Filtering < < < < 

3 SRM 2584 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

3 SRM 2584 250 With Filtering 96.1 85.0 86.2 71.8 

3 SRM 2584 250 Without Filtering 97.3 87.0 81.5 91.3 

3 SRM 2584 500 With Filtering 89.5 90.1 87.9 81.0 

3 SRM 2584 500 Without Filtering 90.7 94.9 90.6 63.9 

3 SRM 2584 2000 With Filtering 77.3 58.3 69.6 62.6 

3 SRM 2584 2000 Without Filtering 98.5 70.3 65.3 50.4 

3 SRM 2586 0 With Filtering < < < < 

3 SRM 2586 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

3 SRM 2586 40 With Filtering 95.0 90.2 89.6 87.4 

3 SRM 2586 40 Without Filtering 102.3 97.5 94.9 87.4 

3 SRM 2586 250 With Filtering 92.0 92.0 84.8 64.4 

3 SRM 2586 250 Without Filtering 93.6 91.1 90.0 74.8 

3 SRM 2586 500 With Filtering 81.4 105.6 103.0 53.6 

3 SRM 2586 500 Without Filtering 85.8 85.8 82.6 65.8 

3 CRM 01450 0 With Filtering < < < < 

3 CRM 01450 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

3 CRM 01450 40 With Filtering 118.6 99.5 106.5 101.5 

3 CRM 01450 40 Without Filtering 115.2 89.6 99.5 86.7 

3 CRM 01450 250 With Filtering 102.8 98.9 107.5 79.4 

3 CRM 01450 250 Without Filtering 102.8 104.2 106.7 81.4 

3 CRM 01450 500 With Filtering 105.0 115.2 104.3 98.8 

3 CRM 01450 500 Without Filtering 101.6 100.8 91.5 81.0 

3 CRM 01450 2000 With Filtering 56.0 59.7 58.8 53.4 

3 CRM 01450 2000 Without Filtering 66.8 57.5 55.1 49.7 a Wipe specimens with designated lead levels of 0 μg were not spiked with a CRM. 

b

 The less-than symbol (<) indicates that the results were “below the detection limit” of the instrument. 
18

Table 9. Lead recovery for each combination of experimental variables for Wipe No. 4 

 UE/ASV Lead Recoveryb, % Wipe 

No. 

CRM 

No. 

Lead 

Level

a

μg 

Filter 

Treatment Op 1 Op 2 Op 3 Op 4 

4 SRM 2580 2000 With Filtering 112.2 92.4 88.5 72.6 

4 SRM 2580 2000 Without Filtering 106.5 99.6 64.8 66.4 

4 SRM 2581 0 With Filtering < < < < 

4 SRM 2581 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

4 SRM 2581 90 With Filtering 95.6 92.4 88.9 70.5 

4 SRM 2581 90 Without Filtering 98.1 88.0 90.2 73.5 

4 SRM 2581 250 With Filtering 83.6 84.3 90.8 63.1 

4 SRM 2581 250 Without Filtering 89.5 72.5 89.2 65.6 

4 SRM 2581 500 With Filtering 95.9 77.6 89.6 63.1 

4 SRM 2581 500 Without Filtering 84.5 79.1 80.6 53.7 

4 SRM 2581 2000 With Filtering 93.1 61.5 60.0 56.5 

4 SRM 2581 2000 Without Filtering 70.7 62.1 67.3 21.5 

4 SRM 2582 40 With Filtering 102.8 95.0 102.4 82.3 

4 SRM 2582 40 Without Filtering 102.6 97.7 97.5 72.6 

4 SRM 2584 0 With Filtering < < < < 

4 SRM 2584 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

4 SRM 2584 250 With Filtering 92.3 92.4 90.4 57.2 

4 SRM 2584 250 Without Filtering 58.4 76.3 81.8 70.0 

4 SRM 2584 500 With Filtering 82.8 77.6 72.9 74.5 

4 SRM 2584 500 Without Filtering 76.4 52.8 80.0 65.2 

4 SRM 2584 2000 With Filtering 57.1 58.7 54.8 46.1 

4 SRM 2584 2000 Without Filtering 47.2 53.3 68.5 38.5 

4 SRM 2586 0 With Filtering < < < < 

4 SRM 2586 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

4 SRM 2586 40 With Filtering 94.8 92.6 90.1 82.1 

4 SRM 2586 40 Without Filtering 97.3 97.2 92.6 77.7 

4 SRM 2586 250 With Filtering 81.5 78.8 92.0 61.2 

4 SRM 2586 250 Without Filtering 91.2 78.9 90.3 62.0 

4 SRM 2586 500 With Filtering 87.0 80.2 81.2 55.6 

4 SRM 2586 500 Without Filtering 88.6 100.6 102.6 57.8 

4 CRM 01450 0 With Filtering < < < < 

4 CRM 01450 0 Without Filtering < < < < 

4 CRM 01450 40 With Filtering 113.6 108.5 93.6 82.5 

4 CRM 01450 40 Without Filtering 119.6 105.5 106.5 82.1 

4 CRM 01450 250 With Filtering 99.8 96.9 95.7 48.4 

4 CRM 01450 250 Without Filtering 101.4 102.8 102.3 50.8 

4 CRM 01450 500 With Filtering 103.9 68.2 109.1 84.9 

4 CRM 01450 500 Without Filtering 94.3 101.5 94.8 83.0 

4 CRM 01450 2000 With Filtering 63.5 59.6 54.8 38.3 

4 CRM 01450 2000 Without Filtering 59.4 49.9 53.7 41.1 a Wipe specimens with designated lead levels of 0 μg were not spiked with a CRM. 

b

 The less-than symbol (<) indicates that the results were “below the detection limit” of the instrument. 
19

Only four of the 512 CRM-containing specimens (i.e., ≈ 1 %) had results that were “below the 

detection limit.” All of these four specimens had lead levels of 40 μg. In addition, whenever a dust 

wipe specimen did not contain lead, the analyses indicated that the results were “below the 

detection limit.” 

Reasons why Operator 4 determined, on the average, lower recoveries than the other three operators 

were not investigated, although one possible explanation is offered. Due to scheduling, Operator 4 

completed the series of analyses before any other operator began. This provided NIST research 

staff opportunity to consider reasons for Operator 4’s low recoveries in advance of the other 

operators’ beginning testing. Departures from the test protocol followed by Operator 4 were 

regarded as unlikely. Observations of this operator during testing gave no indication that the test 

protocol was not being followed. For example, note in Figure 1 that Operator 4’s analyses of the 

CRM 01450 controls afforded quantitative recovery. Ruling out non-conformance to the test 

protocol, NIST research staff asked whether the protocol itself played a role. One consideration 

was whether lead in the dust wipe specimens was satisfactorily extracted. For example, Step 2d 

(Table 5) on first mixing the specimen in the acid directs the operator to “keep pushing the wipe 

down into the acid solution until trapped air bubbles in the wipe have been released and until the 

solution appears cloudy from the dust residue.” This mixing step is subjective. As a supposition, if 

the step is not carried out to the fullest, perhaps dust in a wipe might not be adequately exposed to 

the acid during extraction. As a consequence of considering the effect of mixing on lead recovery, 

NIST research staff made a slight modification to the original test protocol used by Operator 4. 

Specifically, the modification required more rigorous mixing of the dust wipe in the acid. That is, 

after completing either Step 2d or 3e, the operator was to repeat the step.*

 A possible result of this 

change in protocol might have been that Operators 1 through 3 better mixed the specimens in the 

acid than did Operator 4. 

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed on the full data set to evaluate the effect of the five 

main experimental variablesoperator, dust wipe, CRM type, lead level, and filter treatment. An 

examination of the effect of CRM mass was also performed, as mass varied considerably among the 

specimens. Appendix B shows the effect of increasing mass on lead recovery. The ANOVA results 

are summarized in Table 10. A measure of how unlikely an observed effect is due to chance is 

provided by the p-value. Conventionally, effects that have p-values less than 0.05 are considered to 

be statistically significant. The summary in Table 10 shows that all of the main effects were 

significant, although the filter treatment effect was considered to be less significant in comparison 

to the effects of operator, dust wipe, CRM type, lead level, and CRM mass. In addition, many of 

the two-way interactions were highly significant. 

 

Because the two-way interaction effects with CRM type were generally highly significant†

, analysis 

of variance was next conducted to examine separately for each CRM the effect of the other four 

variablesoperator, dust wipe, lead level, and filter treatment. The effect of mass was not included 

in these analyses. When the data set is split and examined separately for each CRM type, the group 

of observations for each lead level is the same as the group of observations for each mass level. 

That is, the lead level and CRM type factors are confounded. The results of the analyses for each 

CRM are given in Appendix C. Trends on the factors affecting recovery, as gleaned from these 

analyses, are presented below (Sections 4.2.2.1 through 4.2.2.4) along with observations from the 

analysis of variance (Table 10) for the entire data set. 

 

*

 This revised mixing directive was still subjective. Nevertheless, it resulted in Operators 1 through 3 mixing the 

specimens in acid for longer periods of time than Operator 4. 

†

 The insignificance of the Operator & CRM Type interaction was considered to be marginal (p = 0.0512). 
20

Table 10. Analysis of variance of the entire data set 

 Analysis Result 

Main Effects and Interactionsa F-Statistic P-Value 

 Main Effects 

 Operator 27.852 0.0000 

 Wipe 81.778 0.0000 

 CRM Type 52.585 0.0000 

 Lead Level 142.630 0.0000 

 CRM Mass 7.597 0.0000 

 Filter Treatment 6.327 0.0123 

 Two-Way Interactions 

 Operator  Wipe 7.028 0.0000 

 Operator — CRM Type 1.685 0.0512 

 Operator — Lead Level 2.009 0.0222 

 Operator — CRM Mass 1.085 0.3712 

 Operator — Filter Treatment 1.082 0.3567 

 Wipe — CRM Type 9.277 0.0000 

 Wipe — Lead Level 4.644 0.0000 

 Wipe — CRM Mass 1.426 0.1514 

 Wipe — Filter Treatment 0.395 0.7567 

 CRM Type — Lead Level 10.869 0.0000 

 CRM Type — Filter Treatment 4.714 0.0003 

 Lead Level  Filter Treatment 0.399 0.8089 

 Lead Level  CRM Mass 11.90 0.0000 

 

 CRM Mass  Filter Treatment 1.967 0.0989 a Because of the one-to-one correspondence between lead level and CRM mass, the interaction 

 between the CRM type and CRM mass could not be estimated by the ANOVA model used in 

 the analysis. The interaction between CRM type and CRM mass is identical to that for lead level 

 and CRM mass. Bold font is used to denote significant p-values (i.e., <0.05). 

The analyses given in Appendix C for each CRM type again shows that lead recovery was quite 

variable and generally affected by all experimental factors. No matter the CRM type, the effect of 

operator, dust wipe, and lead level was always significant. Additionally, for half the CRM types, 

filter treatment of the extract solution was also significant. 

4.2.2.1 Operator Effect

• The highest recoveries were for Operators 1 through 3 and, in the majority of cases, the values 

for each of these three operators were not significantly different from each other. In particular, 

for the 18 comparisons made among Operators 1 through 3 for the six CRMs, a significant 

difference in recovery was only observed between Operator 1 and Operator 2 for SRM 2581. 

This represents 6 % of those between-operator comparisons. 

• Although Operators 1 through 3 had the highest recoveries, the median values were not always 

quantitative; for example, for SRM 2584 and CRM 01450, median recoveries for the four 

operators were never quantitative. 
21

• The lowest recoveries were for Operator 4. In all cases, the median recoveries for Operator 4 

were significantly lower than those for at least one of the other operators. 

• Operator 4 median recoveries were less than quantitative with the exception of SRM 2582. 

Discussion. The results of the analysis of the entire data set indicate that the operator effect was 

essentially associated with Operators 1 through 3 achieving higher lead recovery than 

Operator 4. Recall that Operators 1 through 3 performed the analyses using a slight variation of 

the original test protocol that was followed by Operator 4, although it was not determined 

whether this modification accounted for the observed operator effect.*

 An operator effect was 

still present when the data for Operator 4 were excluded from the analysis, even though no 

significant differences in recovery were generally observed among Operators 1 through 3 when 

the entire data set was analyzed. The finding of an operator effect in the current study was in 

contrast with the results of Ashley et al.’s interlaboratory study [5], wherein acceptable UE/ASV 

lead recovery was found for the participating laboratories (i.e., tests with different operators). 

4.2.2.2 Wipe Effect

• The highest recoveries were generally found for Wipe 3 although, in most cases, they were not 

significantly different than those observed for Wipe 4. 

• The lowest recoveries were generally found for Wipe 1 although, in most cases, they were not 

significantly different than those observed for Wipe 2. 

• The median recoveries for Wipes 3 and 4 were generally quantitative; whereas those for 

Wipes 1 and 2 were generally not quantitative. 

Discussion. The analyses indicated that two of the four wipes (i.e., Wipes 3 and 4) had higher 

lead recovery. The observance of a wipe effect is consistent with the findings of Ashley et al. 

[5], who previously reported differences in lead recovery due to the wipe. Factors contributing 

to the wipe effect observed in this current study were not examined and should be the subject of 

future investigation. Further discussion of the wipe effect is given in Section 4.3. 

4.2.2.3 Lead Level Effect

• The highest recoveries were generally found for the lower lead levels of 40 μg and 90 μg, 

whereas lower recoveries were generally found for the 2000 μg lead levels. 

• The 40 μg and 90 μg lead levels had median recoveries that were all quantitative. 

• The 250 μg, 500 μg, and 2000 μg lead levels generally had median recoveries that were not 

quantitative. An exception was SRM 2580, which had a median recovery of 90 % at the 

2000 μg lead level (data not shown). The mass of the SRM 2580 specimens was 46 mg. 

 Discussion. The results indicate that lead was more readily recovered from specimens having 

low lead levels than those with high lead levels. However, because the data for lead level and 

CRM mass were confounded, it may be that increased specimen mass was responsible for the 

observed lower recoveries at higher lead levels. Note in Figure B1 that specimens with higher 

CRM mass had significant lower median recoveries. The suggestion that CRM mass may be 

responsible for the observed lead level effect is supported by the observation that SRM 2580 at 

the 2000 μg lead level, but having low CRM mass (46 mg), provided quantitative recovery. 

However, other data conflict with this observation. In this regard, many of the specimens, 

 

*

 Plans have been proposed to perform a repeat set of dust wipe analyses by Operator 4 using the slightly modified test 

protocol. The results of such tests would be published when completed. 
22

which were prepared at relatively high lead levels of 250 μg, 500 μg, and 2000 μg with 

relatively low CRM mass (i.e., 26 mg to 205 mg), afforded less than quantitative recovery. 

Future research is needed to elucidate the effects of lead level and CRM mass on recovery. 

4.2.2.4 Filter Treatment Effect

• An effect due to filter treatment was found for three of the six certified reference materials: 

SRM 2581, SRM 2582, and CRM 01450. 

• For SRM 2581 and SRM 2582, recovery was higher for filtered extracts than for non-filtered 

extracts. In contrast, for CRM 01450, non-filtering provided higher recovery. However, in this 

case, the difference between the median recoveries of the filtered and unfiltered extracts was 

slight (≈ 2 %), and no practical significance was attributed to the observed filter treatment 

effect. 

 Discussion. Analysis of variance on the entire data set (Table 10) indicated a main effect due to 

filter treatment with the only significant two-way interaction being that between filter treatment 

and CRM type. Further analysis of the CRM data sets (Appendix C) showed that the filter 

treatment-CRM type effect was not universal to the six CRMs in the study. Reasons for the 

observed filter treatment-CRM type effect are not clear. Although in the cases of SRM 2581 

and SRM 2582 it might be asked whether potential ASV interferants were removed by filtering 

which, in turn, increased lead recovery, recall (Table 3) that these two CRMs provided 

quantitative recovery for specimens prepared without wipes and analyzed without filtering. The 

lack of a filter treatment-wipe interaction was in contrast with Ashley et al.’s results [5] that 

showed recovery for some wipes was enhanced by filtering. The data in the current study 

suggest that the wipes used did not contain ASV interferants that could be removed by filtering. 

The wipe-effect inconsistencies between the current results and those previously published need 

to be resolved. 

 Although reasons for the filter treatment-CRM type interaction have not been identified, the 

finding that filtering enhanced lead recovery for two CRMs has implications for UE/ASV 

analyses of field samples. It may be that UE/ASV analysis of some “real-world” dusts would be 

improved by filtering. In this regard, the finding that filtering can promote recovery for some 

CRMs (i.e., the “dust” in the wipes) supports the recommendation [5] that filtering be used in 

the UE/ASV analysis of dust wipe specimens to help to ensure reliable analysis. 

4.2.3 Summary of the Main Experiment. Four operators conducted UE/ASV analyses of 640 dust 

wipe samples. The results were variable with lead recoveries ranging from < 20 % to > 100 % 

depending upon the combination of experimental variables. Only 42 % of the specimens spiked 

with a CRM afforded quantitative recovery. Statistical analyses of the entire data set showed that 

all experimental variables had a significant effect on recovery. Many of the two-way interaction 

effects were also significant. The operator effect was essentially associated with Operators 1 

through 3 achieving higher lead recovery than Operator 4. Although no significant differences in 

recovery were generally observed among Operators 1 through 3 when the entire data set was 

analyzed, an operator effect was still present when the data for Operator 4 were excluded from the 

analysis. Reasons why the results varied widely with the combinations of experimental factors are 

not known, but such variability is consistent with the observations from a previous study [5]. The 

low lead recoveries in the current study were in contrast to the findings of the previous studies [4-7] 

wherein generally quantitative recoveries were achieved particularly when filtering was used. 

Knowing that the analysis is dependent on many factors including wipe and CRM, it is interesting 

to speculate whether the combinations of the wipe and CRM in the previous studies by chance 
23

provided dust wipe specimens that afforded higher recovery than some of the combinations of wipe 

and CRM in the current study. Based on the results of the Main Experiment, a main conclusion is 

that the test procedure lacked robustness. That is, it was found that changes in the experimental 

variables incorporated in the study design could lead to low lead recoveries. Investigations for 

improving the robustness of the test procedure were beyond the scope of this study and need to be 

addressed in future research. 

 

4.3 The ASV/ICP Comparison

Investigations into the reason(s) why the lead recoveries from many dust wipe specimens were low 

were beyond the scope of the study. Nevertheless, it may be broadly hypothesized that the low 

recoveries were associated with (1) operator error in performing the UE and ASV procedures, (2) 

incomplete lead extraction during sonication, (3) ASV measurement error perhaps due to 

interferants introduced from the dust wipes or CRMs, but not generally removed by filtering, or (4) 

some combination of the three. Although not ruled out by experimentation, operator error is not 

considered in the present discussions because the operators consistently attained quantitative lead 

recovery from the control specimens (Figure 1). 

To provide initial data regarding the role of extraction and ASV measurement in the low recoveries, 

aliquots (≈ 20 mL) of a limited number of UE extracts (after ASV analysis) were shipped overnight 

to an NLLAP laboratory for lead analyses using ICP. For each operator, the extracts selected were 

those prepared during one or two day’s UE/ASV analyses. These extracts were filtered before 

shipment to remove solids (that possibly contained lead)*

. The extract solutions were analyzed by 

the NLLAP laboratory on the same day that they arrived. 

Figure 6 presents plots comparing lead recoveries measured by each operator using ASV with those 

determined by the NLLAP laboratory using ICP. The 45° line in each plot represents agreement 

between the results of the two measurements. The vertical lines denote whether the results of the 

NLLAP ICP analyses were quantitative; i.e., recoveries of ≥ 80 %. The plot symbols signify 

Wipes 1 through 4. Bold, italicized plot symbols (in the upper right corner of the plots) represent 

data points for which the ASV and ICP measurements were both quantitative. Linear regression 

analyses of the data in each plot provided r2-values of ≤ 0.50 for any operator. 

Table 11 summarizes by wipe the percent of specimens that provided quantitative recovery as 

determined by ICP measurement, ASV measurement, and both methods. Review of Figure 6 and 

Table 11 provides some initial insight into the role of extraction and ASV analyses on the low 

recoveries. The observed trends may help direct the design of future experimentation on furthering 

the understanding of factors affecting lead extraction and analysis using UE and ASV, respectively. 

 

*

 Ultrasonic extraction does not totally digest the dust wipe specimens. 
24

Figure 6. Comparison of Lead Recovery Measured by the Operators Using ASV with That 

Measured by the NLLAP Laboratory Using ICP: (A) Operator 1, (B) Operator 2, (C) 

Operator 3, and (D) Operator 4. For a given specimen, the ASV and ICP measurements 

were made on the same UE extract solution. In the plots, the 45° lines represent 

agreement between the results of the two measurements. The vertical lines denote 

whether the results of the NLLAP ICP analyses were quantitative; i.e., recoveries of 

≥ 80 %. The plot symbols represent Wipes 1 through 4. Bold, italicized plot symbols (in 

the upper right corner of the plots) represent data points for which the ASV and ICP 

measurements were both quantitative. 

1

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2 2

2

2

2

2

2

2

3

3

3

3

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

OPERATOR 1

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

NLLAP ICP RECOVERY, %

OPERATOR ASV RECOVERY, 

%

(A)

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

22

3

3

3

33

4

4

4 4 4

OPERATOR 2

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

NLLAP ICP RECOVERY, %

OPERATOR ASV RECOVERY, 

%

(B)

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

3

3

4 4

4

4

OPERATOR 4

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

NLLAP ICP RECOVERY, %

OPERATOR ASV RECOVERY, 

%

(D)

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2 2

3

3

3

3 3

3

3

3

3

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4

4 4

OPERATOR 3

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

NLLAP ICP RECOVERY, %

OPERATOR ASV RECOVERY, 

%

(C)
25

 Table 11. Comparison of recoveries as measured 

 by ASV and ICP methods 

Percent of Specimens Providing 

 Quantitative Recovery 

Wipe ICP Measured ASV Measured Both Methods

No. % % % 

1 26 16 5 

2 80 13 13 

3 96 87 87 

4 96 59 59 

• Operators 1 through 3 generally had higher recoveries than Operator 4. For Operator 1, 

Operator 2, and Operator 3, the percents of recoveries that were quantitative by both ASV and 

ICP were 41 %, 44 %, and 57 %, respectively. In contrast, for Operator 4, only one specimen 

(i.e., 7 % of the total) was quantitatively analyzed by both measurements. 

• For Operators 1 through 3, the percent of ICP measurements that were quantitative ranged 

from about 80 % to 87 %. This suggests that UE extraction was generally adequate for 

Operators 1 through 3, and that some step(s) in the ASV analysis adversely affected recovery. 

For Operator 4, only 57 % of the ICP measurements were quantitative. In this case, inadequate 

extraction may have played more of a role in the low recoveries. Remember that it was 

Operator 4 who followed a test protocol that included less mixing of the specimen in acid than 

that used by Operators 1 through 3 (Section 4.2.2). For Operator 4, the majority of the eight 

specimens showing quantitative ICP recovery yielded less-than-quantitative ASV recovery. 

• Wipes 1 and 2 provided lower lead recovery than Wipes 3 and 4. The percents of quantitative 

recovery for both ASV and ICP were only 5 % and 13 % for Wipes 1 and 2, respectively. In 

contrast, the percents of quantitative recovery for both ASV and ICP were 87 % and 59 % for 

Wipes 3 and 4, respectively. 

• Wipe 1 specimens afforded fewer ICP analyses having quantitative recovery than specimens 

prepared with Wipes 2 through 4. For Wipe 1, the percent of ICP quantitative recoveries was 

only 26 %. A possible explanation for this observation may be that lead extraction from Wipe 1 

specimens using the ultrasonic procedure was more difficult than for specimens prepared with 

Wipes 2 through 4. This possibility has support in the literature. Specifically, Ashley et al. [5] 

reported that ultrasonic extraction (using a procedure similar to that of the present study) did not 

successfully solubilize lead from one of four wipes spiked with SRM 1648 or SRM 2704. 

Another explanation may be that there is an interaction between Wipe 1 and solubilized lead 

that resulted in lowered lead recovery when determined using ICP. A third possibility is that 

Wipe 1 released interferants to the ICP analysis. Regarding adverse interactions or interferants, 

if such damaging factors came into play, they seemingly are not present when the dust wipe 

analyses involves hot plate acid digestion followed by ICP. Note from Table 4 that the mean 

recovery determined by RTI for Wipe 1 specimens was 91 % (12 % CoV). Also, recall from 

Table 1 that the Wipe 1 supplier indicated that its wipe met the provisions of ASTM Standard 

Specification E 1792 [3]. This specification includes a requirement for efficacy of lead recovery 

from CRM-spiked wipes. In showing conformance to this requirement, lead extraction is 

performed using hot plate digestion. Lead analysis of the resulting digestate is performed using 

ICP or Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (FAAS), or Graphite Furnace Atomic 

Absorption Spectrometry (GFAAS). 
26

• Wipes 2 through 4 were in general adequately extracted using UE. For these three wipes, ICP 

recoveries were generally quantitative, with percents ranging from 80 % to 96 %. 

• Wipe 2 specimens may have produced interferants to ASV analysis. Although 80 % of the 

Wipe 2 extracts analyzed using ICP provided quantitative recovery, only 13 % of those same 

extracts analyzed by ASV gave quantitative recovery. 

• Wipe 3 specimens showed the most efficient extraction and ASV measurement. Wipe 3 

specimens displayed quantitative recoveries for 96 % of the ICP analyses, and for 87 % of the 

ASV analyses. 

• Wipe 4 specimens showed efficient extraction, but intermediate ASV performance. Like Wipe 3 

specimens, Wipe 4 specimens gave quantitative recoveries for 96 % of the ICP analyses. Unlike 

Wipe 3, the Wipe 4 specimens provided quantitative ASV recoveries only 59 % of the time. 

4.3.1 Summary of the ASV/ICP Comparison. The comparison of the ASV and ICP data showed, 

consistent with the statistical analyses of the data in the Main Experiment, that: 

• Operator had an effect on recovery as one of the four generally measured lower recoveries than 

the other three. 

• Wipe type had an effect on lead recovery when determined using either ICP or ASV analyses of 

the UE extract solutions. 

5. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS 

Lead in dust can pose a serious risk for young children. Consequently, lead analysis of dust wipe 

samples collected in the field is an integral part of programs for controlling and abating potential 

lead hazards in housing. Normally this analysis is not performed in the field. Previous laboratory 

studies have indicated that ultrasonic extraction/anodic stripping voltammetry (UE/ASV) may be 

suitable for quantitative field analysis of dust wipe samples. A reservation to adopting UE/ASV is 

that the effect of the field operator (i.e., the analyst) is unknown. Lead risk assessors and 

inspectors, who are potential users of field methods (i.e., the operators), may have less skill in 

conducting the lead analyses than chemists and laboratory technicians who participate in evaluation 

studies. On-site lead extraction and analysis of dust wipes are not currently used in federal 

programs for controlling and abating lead hazards in housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and 

Urban Development (HUD) has interest in test methods that may be used to determine lead in dust 

at housing sites. The availability of a reliable field test procedure could allow for on-site lead 

extraction and analysis of dust wipe specimens after field collection. Thus, HUD requested that 

NIST conduct a study to evaluate the effect of operator when certified lead risk assessors or 

inspectors, trained to conduct UE/ASV analyses, performed such analyses of laboratory-prepared 

dust wipe specimens using commercial, field-portable apparatus. Four other experimental variables 

were also examined: dust wipe, CRM type, lead level, and filter treatment of the UE extract solution 

before ASV analysis. All dust wipes were commercial products that were reported by the suppliers 

as conforming to the requirements of ASTM E 1792, “Standard Specification for Wipe Sampling 

Materials for Lead in Surface Dust.” All CRMs provided quantitative lead recovery (i.e., 100 % 

" 20 %) when specimens without dust wipes were analyzed by UE/ASV. 

A five-factor full factorial design guided the experimental program referred to as the Main 

Experiment. Using commercial apparatus, four operators performed UE/ASV analyses of 640 dust 

wipe specimens following a test protocol that was developed in accordance with the UE/ASV 

apparatus instructions. These specimens were prepared using four commercial wipes spiked with 
27

one of six lead-containing CRMs*

. Six lead levels spanned a range from 0 μg to 2000 μg. After UE 

extraction, the extract solutions were either filtered or not filtered before the ASV analyses were 

conducted. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the effects of the experimental factors 

on lead recovery. The key conclusions of the Main Experiment are: 

• Lead recoveries were variable, ranging from < 20 % to > 100 % depending upon the 

combination of experimental variables. Only 42 % of the specimens spiked with a CRM 

afforded quantitative recovery. 

• All experimental factors had a significant effect on recovery; in addition, the majority of the 

two-way interactions were also significant. 

• The operator effect was essentially associated with three of the four operators determining 

higher lead recoveries than the other one. The three operators reporting the higher recoveries 

followed a test protocol than was a slight modification of that used by the fourth operator. It 

was not determined whether this modification accounted for the observed operator effect. Only 

in one case was a significant difference in recovery observed among the three operators 

achieving higher recoveries; nevertheless, the operator effect was present when the data for the 

fourth operator were excluded from the analysis. 

• The wipe effect was associated with two of the four wipes providing lower recoveries than the 

other two. Median recoveries for the two wipes providing the higher recoveries were generally 

quantitative. 

• The lead level effect was associated with lower lead levels providing greater recovery than the 

higher lead levels. A CRM mass effect was also present with lower mass resulting in greater 

recovery. Because, for a given CRM, increases in mass are accompanied by increases in lead 

level, the lead level and CRM mass effects could not be distinguished. 

• The filter treatment effect was primarily associated with two of the six CRMs providing 

significantly greater recoveries when the UE extract was filtered before ASV analysis. 

• A filter treatment-CRM type interaction was found; whereas a filter treatment-wipe interaction 

was not observed. 

Investigations as to why the lead recoveries from many dust wipe specimens were low were beyond 

the scope of the study. Nevertheless, to provide data regarding the role played by ultrasonic 

extraction and ASV measurement on the low recoveries, the lead concentrations of a limited 

number of UE extracts were analyzed by an NLLAP laboratory using ICP. For each operator, a 

comparison was made between the ICP and ASV results. Key findings from these comparisons 

include: 

• Wipe type had an effect on lead recovery when determined using either ICP or ASV analyses of 

the UE extract solutions. 

• One wipe may have produced interferants to ASV analysis. 

Based on the results of the current study, a main conclusion is that the UE/ASV test procedure 

lacked robustness for analyzing dust wipe specimens. That is, it was found that changes in the 

experimental variables incorporated in the study design could lead to low lead recoveries. This 

variability in recovery was consistent with the results of a previous study in which it was found that 

recovery depended upon the combination of experiment factors examined. Investigations for 

 

*

 Four CRMs were initially considered for the experiments; however, of the four, only one had a lead content (i.e., 

percent lead by mass fraction) that made it practical to prepare dust wipe specimens having lead levels spanning the 

selected range. To help overcome this limitation, two additional CRMs were included in the study. 
28

improving the robustness of the test procedure were beyond the scope of this study. It is 

recommended that such investigations be conducted in future research. 

6. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Healthy Homes and 

Lead Hazard Control (OHHLHC), sponsored this study. The authors appreciate the support and 

encouragement of HUD colleagues Peter Ashley, Warren Friedman, David E. Jacobs, and Eugene 

Pinzer. The authors thank Joannie Chin, Dennis Leber, and Jonathan Martin, NIST colleagues, who 

gave generous time in reviewing this report. The authors extend special thanks to David Binstock, 

Research Triangle Institute (RTI), for his critical review. 

7. REFERENCES 

 [1] “Guidelines for the Evaluation and Control of Lead-Based Paint Hazards in Housing,” U.S. 

Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD-1539-LBP (July 1995), available at: 

www.hud.gov/offices/lead/guidelines/hudguidelines/index.cfm. 

 [2] “Collection of Settled Dust Samples Using Wipe Sampling Methods for Subsequent Lead 

Determination,” ASTM Standard Practice E 1728, Annual Book of Standards, Vol. 04.07, 

ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA (2002). 

 [3] “Wipe Sampling Materials for Lead in Surface Dust,” ASTM Standard Specification 

E 1792, Annual Book of Standards, Vol. 04.07, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, 

PA (2002). 

 [4] Ashley, K., Song, R., Esch, C.A., Schlecht, P.C., Baron, P.A., and Wise T.J., “Ultrasonic 

Extraction and Anodic Stripping Voltammetry of Lead in Paint, Dust Wipes, Soil, and Air: 

An Interlaboratory Evaluation,” Journal of Environmental Monitoring, 1 (1999), pp. 459-

464. 

 [5] Ashley, K., Wise, T.J., Mercado, W., and Parry, D.B., “Ultrasonic Extraction and FieldPortable Anodic Stripping Voltammetry Measurement of Lead in Dust Wipe Samples,” 

Journal of Hazardous Materials, 83 (2001), pp. 41-50. 

 [6] Dindal, A.B., Bayne, C.K., Jenkins, R.A., and Koglin, E.N., Environmental Technology 

Verification Report, Lead in Dust Wipe Measurement Technology, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, EPA/600/R-02/057 (September 2002), available at: www.epa.gov/etv. 

 [7] Dindal, A.B., Bayne, C.K., Jenkins, R.A., and Koglin, E.N., Environmental Technology 

Verification Report, Lead in Dust Wipe Measurement Technology, U.S. Environmental 

Protection Agency, EPA/600/R-02/060 (September 2002), available at: www.epa.gov/etv. 

 

 [8] “Terminology Relating to Lead in Buildings,” ASTM Standard Terminology E 1605, 

Annual Book of Standards, Vol. 04.11, ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA 

(2003). 
29

 [9] “EPA National Lead Laboratory Accreditation Program Laboratory Quality System 

Requirements (LQSR), Revision 2.0,” (August 1, 1996); available on the web at: 

www.hud.gov/offices/lead/labs/LQSR.pdf. 

 [10] Rossiter, W.J., Jr., Vangel, M.G., McKnight, M.E., and Dewalt, G., “Spot Test Kits For 

Detecting Lead in Household Paint: A Laboratory Evaluation,” NISTIR 6398, National 

Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (March 2000), 97 pages. 

 [11] Rossiter, W.J., Jr., Vangel, M.G., McKnight, M.E., Signor, A., and Byrd, W. E., “Ultrasonic 

Extraction/Anodic Stripping Voltammetry for Determining Lead in Household Paint: A 

Laboratory Evaluation,” NISTIR 6571, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 

Gaithersburg, MD (May 2001), 66 pages. 

 [12] Rossiter, W.J., Jr., Toman, B., McKnight, Baghai Anaraki, M., “Factors Affecting 

Ultrasonic Extraction of Lead from Laboratory-Prepared Household Paint Films,” NISTIR 

6834, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (May 2002), 48 

pages. 

 

 [13] Rossiter, W.J., Jr., Toman, B., McKnight, Emenanjo I., and Baghai Anaraki, M., “Factors 

Affecting Ultrasonic Extraction of Lead from Paint: Further Investigations,” NISTIR 6948, 

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD (March 2003), 33 pages. 

 [14] Environmental Lead Proficiency Analytical Testing (ELPAT) Program, described in: 

http://www.aiha.org/LaboratoryServices/html/elpat1.htm

 [15] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Test Methods SW-846, Test Method 6010B, 

“Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry,” available on the web at: 

www.epa.gov/SW-846/pdfs/6010b.pdf. 

 
A1

APPENDIX A. LEAD RECOVERY FOR COMBINATIONS OF WIPE AND CRM 

This Appendix presents, for each operator, a summary of lead recovery for each combination of 

wipe and CRM (Tables A1 through A4). This summary is a further illustration of the variability in 

the lead recovery data developed in the Main Experiment. Table A5 lists, for each operator, the 

number of the six combinations of wipe and CRM that provided mean quantitative recovery. Note 

from Table A5 that Operators 1 through 3 had many more instances of mean quantitative recovery 

than Operator 4. Note also that Wipes 3 and 4 provided more cases of mean quantitative recovery 

than Wipes 1 and 2. 

 Table A1. Lead recovery determined by Operator 1 for each combination of wipe and CRM 

 Lead Recovery, % Operator 

No. 

Wipe 

No. 

CRM 

No. na Min Max Mean CoVb 

1 1 SRM 2580 2 65.3 73.6 69.4 8.5 

 SRM 2581 8 45.5 98.2 71.1 25.4 

 SRM 2582 2 72.4 87.3 79.9 13.2 

 SRM 2584 6 26.0 79.8 63.7 30.9 

 SRM 2586 6 44.0 77.9 61.8 21.6 

 CRM 01450 8 7.2 102.0 48.0 67.6 

1 2 SRM 2580 2 53.7 62.0 57.9 10.1 

 SRM 2581 8 49.0 81.9 67.1 16.6 

 SRM 2582 2 77.4 107.3 92.3 22.9 

 SRM 2584 6 61.6 85.0 72.0 12.9 

 SRM 2586 6 69.6 102.3 82.9 17.1 

 CRM 01450 8 40.1 98.9 60.9 33.7 

1 3 SRM 2580 2 97.5 99.5 98.5 1.4 

 SRM 2581 8 81.7 113.0 94.8 9.3 

 SRM 2582 2 102.4 102.5 102.4 0.1 

 SRM 2584 6 77.3 98.5 91.6 8.6 

 SRM 2586 6 81.4 102.3 91.7 8.0 

 CRM 01450 8 56.0 118.6 96.1 23.4 

1 4 SRM 2580 2 106.5 112.2 109.4 3.7 

 SRM 2581 8 70.7 98.1 88.9 10.2 

 SRM 2582 2 102.6 102.8 102.7 0.1 

 SRM 2584 6 47.2 92.3 69.0 25.2 

 SRM 2586 6 81.5 97.3 90.1 6.3 

 CRM 01450 8 59.4 119.6 94.4 23.2 a

 n indicates number of specimens. 

b

 CoV indicates coefficient of variation (std deviation/mean x 100). 
A2

 Table A2. Lead recovery determined by Operator 2 for each combination of wipe and CRM 

 Lead Recovery, % Operator 

No. 

Wipe 

No. 

CRM 

No. na Min Max Mean CoVb 

2 1 SRM 2580 2 84.7 90.0 87.3 4.3 

 SRM 2581 8 32.0 83.8 57.5 32.5 

 SRM 2582 1c --- 72.4 --- --- 

 SRM 2584 6 34.6 66.3 52.0 23.2 

 SRM 2586 6 59.0 77.2 64.4 10.9 

 CRM 01450 8 14.4 82.1 53.0 47.6 

2 2 SRM 2580 2 72.8 99.3 86.1 21.8 

 SRM 2581 8 50.8 83.7 68.7 39.4 

 SRM 2582 2 77.4 92.6 85.0 12.6 

 SRM 2584 6 40.7 98.9 62.2 33.6 

 SRM 2586 6 62.0 92.8 75.3 17.3 

 CRM 01450 8 39.4 97.5 61.9 33.2 

2 3 SRM 2580 2 104.2 109.0 106.6 3.2 

 SRM 2581 8 49.6 91.3 78.9 17.7 

 SRM 2582 2 92.3 92.6 92.5 0.3 

 SRM 2584 6 58.3 94.9 80.9 17.1 

 SRM 2586 6 85.8 105.6 93.7 7.4 

 CRM 01450 8 57.5 115.2 90.7 23.2 

2 4 SRM 2580 2 92.4 99.6 96.0 5.3 

 SRM 2581 8 61.5 92.4 77.2 14.7 

 SRM 2582 2 95.0 97.7 96.4 2.0 

 SRM 2584 6 52.8 92.4 68.5 23.4 

 SRM 2586 6 78.8 100.6 88.0 11.3 

 CRM 01450 8 49.9 108.5 86.6 27.1 a

 n indicates number of specimens. 

b

 CoV indicates coefficient of variation (std deviation/mean x 100). c

 One analysis for this combination of wipe and CRM had a result that was “below the detection limit.” 
A3

 Table A3. Lead recovery determined by Operator 3 for each combination of wipe and CRM 

 Lead Recovery, % Operator 

No. 

Wipe 

No. 

CRM 

No. na Min Max Mean CoVb 

3 1 SRM 2580 2 72.7 92.4 82.5 16.9 

 SRM 2581 8 41.9 84.1 67.0 25.3 

 SRM 2582 2 72.5 84.9 78.7 11.2 

 SRM 2584 6 39.3 78.7 63.9 22.5 

 SRM 2586 6 40.4 75.2 61.4 19.2 

 CRM 01450 8 6.3 68.8 46.6 52.7 

3 2 SRM 2580 2 68.7 69.3 69.0 0.6 

 SRM 2581 8 64.7 84.8 74.1 8.0 

 SRM 2582 2 67.7 99.8 83.7 27.1 

 SRM 2584 6 58.4 85.3 73.5 12.7 

 SRM 2586 6 70.8 97.4 88.0 12.3 

 CRM 01450 8 24.9 103.0 71.1 42.4 

3 3 SRM 2580 2 102.5 102.6 102.5 0.1 

 SRM 2581 8 56.7 99.7 87.3 15.7 

 SRM 2582 2 94.9 97.5 96.2 1.9 

 SRM 2584 6 65.3 90.6 80.2 12.9 

 SRM 2586 6 82.6 103.0 90.8 8.1 

 CRM 01450 8 55.1 107.5 91.2 23.9 

3 4 SRM 2580 2 64.8 88.5 76.7 21.9 

 SRM 2581 8 60.0 90.8 82.1 14.6 

 SRM 2582 2 97.5 102.4 100.0 3.5 

 SRM 2584 6 54.8 90.4 74.7 16.5 

 SRM 2586 6 81.2 102.6 91.5 7.5 

 CRM 01450 8 53.7 109.1 88.8 24.8 a

 n indicates number of specimens. 

b

 CoV indicates coefficient of variation (std deviation/mean x 100). 
A4

 Table A4. Lead recovery determined by Operator 4 for each combination of wipe and CRM 

 Lead Recovery, % Operator 

No. 

Wipe 

No. 

CRM 

No. na Min Max Mean CoVb 

4 1 SRM 2580 2 79.4 101.6 90.5 17.3 

 SRM 2581 8 38.7 93.5 63.2 32.1 

 SRM 2582 2 82.3 82.4 82.4 0.1 

 SRM 2584 6 38.6 78.7 58.4 28.0 

 SRM 2586 6 38.2 72.5 55.6 24.9 

 CRM 01450 7c 9.3 81.7 43.4 65.0 

4 2 SRM 2580 2 62.7 63.6 63.1 1.0 

 SRM 2581 8 32.7 67.1 53.6 20.9 

 SRM 2582 1c --- 62.4 --- --- 

 SRM 2584 6 41.2 74.7 53.3 24.4 

 SRM 2586 5c 52.4 67.1 61.8 9.7 

 CRM 01450 8 17.2 83.7 48.1 50.7 

4 3 SRM 2580 2 81.9 96.8 89.3 11.8 

 SRM 2581 8 47.8 77.4 64.7 15.3 

 SRM 2582 2 87.5 87.6 87.6 0.0 

 SRM 2584 6 50.4 91.3 70.2 20.7 

 SRM 2586 6 53.6 87.4 72.2 18.7 

 CRM 01450 8 49.7 101.5 79.0 23.8 

4 4 SRM 2580 2 66.4 72.6 69.5 4.4 

 SRM 2581 8 21.5 73.5 58.4 27.9 

 SRM 2582 2 72.6 82.3 77.5 8.9 

 SRM 2584 6 38.5 74.5 58.6 24.0 

 SRM 2586 6 55.6 82.1 66.1 16.7 

 CRM 01450 8 38.3 84.9 63.9 32.7 a

 n indicates number of specimens. 

b

 CoV indicates coefficient of variation (std deviation/mean x 100). c

 One analysis for this combination of wipe and CRM had a result that was “below the detection limit.” 

 Table A5. Number of combinations of wipe and CRM providing mean 

 quantitative recovery for each operator 

Mean Quantitative Recovery: number of cases per operatora

Wipe 

No. Op 1 Op 2 Op 3 Op 4 

1 0 1 1 2 

2 2 2 2 0 

3 6 5 6 2 

4 5 4 4 0 a

 There were six combinations of wipe and CRM for each operator. 
B1

APPENDIX B. CRM MASS EFFECT ON LEAD RECOVERY 

This Appendix illustrates the effect of CRM mass on lead recovery. Mass varied considerably 

among the specimens because of the varying lead content (by % mass fraction) of the CRMs. 

Figure B1 shows plots of lead recovery versus CRM mass for each of the four operators. In this 

figure, the plot symbol distinguishes the data points by wipe. 

A box plot was prepared to illustrate the mass effect. To simplify this analysis, the CRM masses of 

the specimens were grouped into six levels, each having specimens with comparable amounts of 

mass (Table B1). In a box plot, the shaded boxes represent the range of recovery for 50 % of the 

data points. The white line in each shaded box indicates the median recovery. The brackets (often 

called “whiskers”) above and below the box represent the smallest and largest points except for the 

outliers, which are represented by solid lines. The size of the box and spread of the whiskers 

indicate the influence of the other experimental variables (i.e., those factors that are not the focus of 

the given box plot) on lead recovery. Relatively small boxes indicate that the result was generally 

not affected by the other experimental variables. 

Figure B1. Lead Recovery as Related to CRM Mass and Wipe Type: (A) Operator 1, (B) Operator 2, 

(C) Operator 3, and (D) Operator 4. 

RECOVERY VS CRM MASS

Operator 1

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

MASS, mg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Wipe 1

Wipe 2

Wipe 3

Wipe 4

(A)

RECOVERY VS CRM MASS

Operator 2

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

MASS, mg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Wipe 1

Wipe 2

Wipe 3

Wipe 4

(B)

RECOVERY VS CRM MASS

Operator 3

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

MASS, mg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Wipe 1

Wipe 2

Wipe 3

Wipe 4

(C)

RECOVERY VS CRM MASS

Operator 4

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200

MASS, mg

LEAD RECOVERY, %

Wipe 1

Wipe 2

Wipe 3

Wipe 4

(D)
B2

20 40 60 80 100 120

recovery

123456

mass

Figure B2 presents the box plot showing the effect of mass on lead recovery for the six groupings of 

mass level (Table B1). As mass level increased, median lead recovery decreased, particularly for 

Mass Levels 4 through 6. Analysis using simultaneous 95 % confidence intervals (data not shown) 

was performed to identify whether an observed difference in lead recovery between a given pair of 

factor levels (e.g., Mass Level 1 vs Mass Level 2) was significant. This analysis indicated that there 

was no significant difference between Mass Level 1 and Mass Level 2. All other pair-wise 

comparisons were significantly different. 

 Table B1. Groupings of mass levels for use in the analysis 

Specimen CRM Mass Level Design CRM Mass, mg 

1 20 

 21 

 26 

2 46 

 51 

 56 

3 93 

 111 

 131 

4 192 

 205 

 261 

5 445 

 579 

6 1045 

 1157 

Figure B2. Effect of CRM Mass on Lead Recovery 
C1

APPENDIX C. ANALYSIS BY CRM TYPE 

C1. INTRODUCTION 

Many of the two-way interaction terms with CRM type were highly significant. Thus, analysis of 

variance was performed to examine separately the effect of operator, dust wipe, lead level, and filter 

treatment for each CRM. Table C1 summarizes the results of this analysis of variance and indicates 

whether the combination of a given CRM with one of the other experimental variables had a 

significant effect (p-value > 0.05) on lead recovery. Analysis using simultaneous 95 % confidence 

intervals (data not shown) was next performed for each combination of CRM type and those 

experimental variables found to be significant in the analysis of variance. The simultaneous 

confidence intervals identified whether a measured difference in lead recovery for a given pair of 

factor levels (e.g., Operator 1 vs Operator 2) was significant. 

Box plots were prepared for each combination of CRM type and significant variable to illustrate the 

magnitude of the effects found in these analyses. The sections that follow (C2 through C7) present 

the box plots. Major observations from each analysis are given to the right of each box plot. 

 Table C1. Analysis of variance for each Certified Reference Material data set 

 Analysis Result Certified Reference 

Material 

Experimental 

Variable F-Statistic P-Value Sign. Effect ? 

SRM 2580 Operator 3.632 0.0279 Yes 

 Wipe 9.095 0.0004 Yes 

 Filter Treatment 0.287 0.5973 No 

SRM 2581 Operator 19.904 0.0000 Yes 

 Wipe 16.111 0.0000 Yes 

 Lead Level 13.987 0.0000 Yes 

 Filter Treatment 14.575 0.0002 Yes 

SRM 2582 Operator 3.859 0.0233 Yes 

 Wipe 6.623 0.00245 Yes 

 Filter Treatment 6.572 0.0177 Yes 

SRM 2584 Operator 7.979 0.0001 Yes 

 Wipe 14.984 0.0000 Yes 

 Lead Level 24.089 0.0000 Yes 

 Filter Treatment 2.623 0.1087 No 

SRM 2586 Operator 28.313 0.0000 Yes 

 Wipe 52.839 0.0000 Yes 

 Lead Level 33.516 0.0000 Yes 

 Filter Treatment 4.549 0.0358 Yes 

CRM 01450 Operator 10.960 0.0000 Yes 

 Wipe 72.082 0.0000 Yes 

 Lead Level 95.844 0.0000 Yes 

 Filter Treatment 0.050 0.8233 No 

a

 This column indicates whether the given combination of CRM and experimental variable had a 

 significant effect on lead recovery. 
C2

60 70 80 90 100 110

recovery

1234

operator

60 70 80 90 100 110

recovery

1234

wipe

C2. Statistical Analysis for SRM 2580. For SRM 2580, there was only one lead level used in the 

experiment so lead level was not a factor in the analysis. Operator and dust wipe were found to 

have a significant effect on lead recovery; whereas filter treatment had an insignificant effect 

(Table C1). The major observations are: 

SRM 2580: Operator Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Operator 2 achieved the highest recovery (median ≈ 95 %), which 

was significantly higher than Operator 4, who had the lowest 

recovery (median ≈ 72 %). 

• All other pair-wise comparisons were not significantly different. 

• The results for Operators 1 and 3 were quite variable. 

SRM 2580: Wipe Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Wipe 2 had the lowest recovery (median ≈ 66 %), which was 

significantly worse than Wipe 3 or Wipe 4 (medians ≈ 101 % and 

≈ 90 %, respectively). 

• Wipe 3 had the highest recovery, which was not significantly 

different from that of Wipe 4. 

• All other pair-wise comparisons were not significantly different. 

• The results for Wipe 4 were quite variable. 
C3

20 40 60 80 100

recovery

1234

operator

20 40 60 80 100

recovery

1234

wipe

20 40 60 80 100

recovery

90 250 500 2000

leadlevel

20 40 60 80 100

recovery

WF WOF

procedure

C3. Statistical Analysis for SRM 2581. For SRM 2581, all variablesoperator, dust wipe, filter 

treatment, and lead levelhad a significant effect on lead recovery (Table C1). The major 

observations are: 

SRM 2581: Operator Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Operator 4 (median ≈ 60 %) was significantly lower than the 

other three operators (median range ≈ 71 % to ≈ 82 %). 

• Operator 1 (median ≈ 82 %) was significantly higher than 

Operator 2 (median ≈ 71 %), but not Operator 3 (median ≈ 80 %). 

• All other pair-wise comparisons were not significantly different. 

SRM 2581: Wipe Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Wipes 3 and 4 had significantly higher recovery than Wipes 1 

 and 2. 

• Wipe 3 had the highest recovery (median ≈ 84 %), which was not 

significantly different from that of Wipe 4 (median ≈ 80 %). 

• Wipe 1 had the lowest recovery (median ≈ 65 %), which was not 

significantly different from Wipe 2 (median ≈ 70 %). 

SRM 2581: Lead Level Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• The 2000 μg Lead Level had the lowest recovery (median 

≈ 60 %), which was significantly different from that of the other 

three lead levels (median range ≈ 77 % to ≈ 81 %). 

• All other pair-wise comparisons were not significantly different. 

SRM 2581: Filter Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Analyses with filtering (WF) provided significantly higher 

recovery than those without filtering (WOF). 
C4

70 80 90 100

recovery

1234

operator

70 80 90 100

recovery

1234

wipe

70 80 90 100

recovery

WF WOF

procedure

C4. Statistical Analysis for SRM 2582. For SRM 2582, there was only one lead level used in the 

experiment so lead level was not a factor in the analysis. Operator, dust wipe, and filter treatment 

all had a significant effect on lead recovery (Table C1). The major observations are: 

SRM 2582: Operator Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Operator 1 had the highest recovery (median ≈ 103 %), which 

was significantly different from that of Operator 4, who had the 

lowest recovery (median ≈ 82 %). 

• Recoveries for Operators 1 through 3 ranged from ≈ 93 % to 

≈ 103 %, (median values). Differences were not significant. 

• All other pair-wise comparisons were not significantly different. 

SRM 2582: Wipe Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Wipe 1 was significantly lower than Wipes 3 and 4. 

• The highest recovery was for Wipe 4 (median ≈ 97 %), which 

was not significantly different from that of Wipe 3 (median 

≈ 93 %). 

• The lowest recovery was for Wipe 2 (median ≈ 77 %), which was 

not significantly different from that of Wipe 1 (median ≈ 82 %). 

• All other pair-wise comparisons were not significantly different. 

• Recovery for Wipe 2 was extremely variable. 

SRM 2582: Filter Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Analyses with filtering (WF) provided significantly higher 

recovery than those without filtering (WOF). 
C5

40 60 80 100

recovery

1234

operator

40 60 80 100

recovery

1234

wipe

40 60 80 100

recovery

250 500 2000

leadlevel

C5. Statistical Analysis for SRM 2584. For SRM 2584, three variablesoperator, dust wipe, and 

lead levelhad a significant effect on lead recovery (Table C1). The major observations are: 

SRM 2584: Operator Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Operator 1 (median ≈ 78 %) and Operator 3 (median ≈ 77 %) had 

significantly higher recoveries than Operator 4 (median ≈ 60 %). 

• The lowest median recovery was for Operator 4, which was not 

significantly different from that of Operator 2 (median ≈ 61 %). 

• All other pair-wise comparisons were not significantly different. 

SRM 2584: Wipe Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Wipe 3 had the highest recovery (median ≈ 85 %), which was 

significantly different from the other three wipes (median range 

≈ 61 % to ≈ 69 %). 

• Wipe 1, Wipe 2, and Wipe 4 were not significantly different from 

each other. 

SRM 2584: Lead Level Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Recovery for the 2000 μg lead level (median ≈ 58 %) was 

significantly lower than that for the 250 μg and 500 μg lead 

levels (both medians ≈ 76 %). 
C6

40 60 80 100

recovery

1234

operator

40 60 80 100

recovery

1234

wipe

40 60 80 100

recovery

WF WOF

procedure

40 60 80 100

recovery

40 250 500

leadlevel

C6. Statistical Analysis for SRM 2586. For SRM 2586, all variablesoperator, dust wipe, filter 

treatment, and lead levelhad a significant effect on lead recovery (Table C1). The major 

observations are: 

SRM 2586: Operator Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Operator 4 (median ≈ 62 %) had the lowest recovery, which was 

significantly different from that of Operators 1 through 3 (median 

range ≈ 80 % to≈ 90 %) 

• Operator 3 had the highest recovery (median ≈ 90 %), which was 

not significantly different from that of Operators 1 and 2. 

SRM 2586: Wipe Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Wipe 3 had the highest recovery (median ≈ 90 %), which was not 

significantly different from that of Wipe 4 (median ≈ 88 %). 

• All other pair-wise comparisons were significantly different, with 

Wipe 1 having the lowest recovery (median ≈ 60 %). 

SRM 2586: Lead Level Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• The 40 μg lead level had the highest recovery (median ≈ 90 %), 

which was significantly higher than that of the other two lead 

levels. 

• The 250 μg lead level (median ≈ 75 %) and the 500 μg lead level 

(median ≈ 70 %) were not significantly different from each other. 

SRM 2586: Filter Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• The analyses without filtering (WOF) provided significantly 

higher recovery than those with filtering (WF). Nevertheless, the 

median recovery for the unfiltered extracts was ≈ 81 % versus 

≈ 79 % for the filtered extracts. 
C7

20 40 60 80 100 120

recovery

1234

operator

20 40 60 80 100 120

recovery

1234

wipe

20 40 60 80 100 120

recovery

40 250 500 2000

leadlevel

C7. Statistical Analysis for CRM 01450. For CRM 01450, three variablesoperator, dust wipe, 

and lead levelhad a significant effect on lead recovery (Table C1). The major observations are: 

CRM 01450: Operator Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Operator 4 had the lowest recovery (median ≈ 53 %), which was 

significantly different from that of the other three operators 

(median range ≈ 68 % to ≈ 73 %). 

• The recoveries for Operator 1 through Operator 3 were not 

significantly different from each other. 

CRM 01450: Wipe Effect Observations from the Analysis: 

• Wipe 3 had the highest recovery (median ≈ 100 %), which was 

not significantly different from that of Wipe 4 (median ≈ 95 %). 

• Wipe 1 had the lowest recovery (median ≈ 51 %), which was 

significantly different from that of Wipe 2 (median ≈ 56 %). 

• All other pair-wise comparisons were significantly different. 

CRM 01450: Lead Level Eff. Observations from the Analysis: 

• The 40 μg lead level (median ≈ 97 %) was significantly higher 

than the other three lead levels. 

• The 2000 μg lead level (median ≈ 41 %) was significantly lower 

than the other three lead levels. 

• The 250 μg lead level (median ≈ 79 %) and the 500 μg lead level 

(median ≈ 72 %) were not significantly different.