NIST Issues Standard for Testing Lead in Paint

The National Institute of Standards and Technology has developed reference materials to test the level of lead in paint using X-Ray Fluorescent (“XRF”) guns.  The CPSC limit on lead in children’s products is 90 ppm.  The reference materials are three polyester panels painted with three different paints:  one paint has no lead, the second paint contains lead at 85 mg/kg, and the third paint contains lead at 314 mg/kg.  These materials can be used to screen children’s products for compliance with the CPSC lead standard.  While the CPSC won’t accept XRF testing as evidence of compliance, the use of XRF can be helpful to manufacturers and distributors to screen products.