Particle Size and Lead Concentration Factors in Sanding Operations to Remove Lead Based Paints Particle Size and Lead Concentration Factors in Sanding Operations to Remove Lead Based Paints. This finding prompted the Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet to issue a policy prohibiting sanding as a means of paint removal, whether the paint contained lead or not. Sanding is arguably the best mechanical method for preparing a metal surface for coating. Loss of this capability has a deleterious effect on equipment life, time of repair and personnel. The industrial hygiene data does not include particle size distribution analysis for the aerosol dust generated by sanding nor does it identify the fractions of lead within the aerosol size distribution.
Little information exists in the literature concerning sanding aerosol particle size.
This report describes preliminary data from a set of studies intended to provide key information to permit safe use of sanding for paint removal. Measurements in the breathing zone during sanding operations indicate that aerosols having a mass median diameter in the 3-6 micron region are produced. This breathing zone aerosol median size is weakly related to abrasive grit size, sanding pressure, surface orientation, and other factors. Since marine paints often contain lead, we have also expressed the observed aerosol properties as a deposition rate for lead on the basis of calculated aerosol deposition, providing an estimate of potential dose.