This won't hurt a bit Despite nationwide remediation efforts, lead poisoning still poses a significant public health problem. Recent data indicates that nearly 1.5 million preschool children have lead in their blood at nearly two times the upper limit recommended by Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control. Children may come in contact with lead in the soil, paint, water and food. To achieve increased sensitivity in a reliable, economically feasible system, Laboratory researchers have developed a selective laser technology known as resonant laser ablation and combined it with mass spectrometry to measure lead in environmental and biomedical samples.
Laser ablation uses short pulses of high peak power to rapidly heat and vaporize a sample.
Coupled with a mass spectrometer that measures the resultant molecular ionization, the new technology offers quick, noninvasive sample analysis in the parts per billion range, much more sensitive than the federal agencies require. The buses were stopping at the county administration building on Trinity Drive before coming to the Lab dropoff area, Danielson explained. The change will make the bus service more convenient for Lab employees, he added. The state Highway and Transportation Department will operate the demonstration project through Aug. 15. The state hopes to attract between 15,000 and 16,000 riders during the trial.