ASTM E2913/E2913M-21 PDF

Overview

ASTM E2913/E2913M-21: Standard Practice for Hotplate Digestion of Lead from Composited Wipe Samples provides a standardized procedure for preparing composited wipe samples for lead analysis, specifically employing hotplate digestion using nitric acid. This practice guides laboratories in combining up to four individually collected wipe samples of settled dust from equally-sized areas, facilitating subsequent determination of total lead content. It is essential for analysts aiming to produce reliable, comparable results when quantifying lead, especially in environmental and industrial hygiene settings.

This ASTM standard is primarily intended for use with dust wipes that meet Specification E1792. Laboratories are required to validate the method for their specific combinations of wipes and must ensure all processes are fit for their intended use, as outlined in ISO/IEC 17025. Analysts experienced in hotblock digestion techniques should use this practice for optimal sample preparation and accurate lead determination.

Key Topics

• Composited Sampling: Combines up to four wipes from equally-sized areas, increasing sampling efficiency and representativeness.
• Hotplate Digestion: Utilizes hot, concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide to extract lead from settled dust on wipes.
• Sample Validation: Each laboratory must validate the method for its particular application, combination of wipes, and analysis protocol.
• Matrix Limitations: Method is suitable for lead bound in paint dust but may not be appropriate for lead in silica or silicate matrices that are not soluble in nitric acid.
• Safety and Quality Controls: Users are responsible for following proper laboratory safety, health, environmental practices, and record-keeping procedures in accordance with referenced ASTM practices.
• Reporting Standards: Results can be reported as total lead or as lead per unit area (e.g., μg Pb/cm² or μg Pb/ft²), supporting compliance with regulatory requirements such as 40 CFR Part 745.

Applications

• Lead Hazard Assessment: Supports environmental professionals and industrial hygienists conducting lead hazard evaluations in residential, commercial, or institutional buildings where surface dust may present health risks.
• Clearance Testing: Useful after lead hazard reduction activities to assess post-remediation lead levels on surfaces before declaring areas safe for occupancy.
• Analytical Laboratories: Provides a validated framework for laboratories preparing samples for instrumental analysis methods, such as ICP-AES, FAAS, or GFAAS.
• Regulatory Compliance: Helps organizations meet governmental and local authority requirements for sampling and analysis of lead contamination in built environments.

This practice ensures a consistent approach to detecting and quantifying surface lead dust and supports data integrity, reliability, and regulatory acceptance of analytical results.

Related Standards

• ASTM E1792: Specification for Wipe Sampling Materials for Lead in Surface Dust
• ASTM D6966: Practice for Collection of Settled Dust Samples Using Wipe Sampling Methods
• ASTM E1644: Practice for Hot Plate Digestion of Dust Wipe Samples for the Determination of Lead
• ASTM E1728: Practice for Collection of Settled Dust Samples Using Wipe Sampling Methods for Lead Determination
• ASTM E1613: Test Method for Determination of Lead by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)
• ISO/IEC 17025:2017: General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories
• 40 CFR Part 745: Federal regulations concerning lead-based paint poisoning prevention in certain residential structures

Practitioners are encouraged to consult these related documents for complementary procedures on sampling, analysis, laboratory practice, and compliance frameworks. This interconnected network of standards ensures holistic and reliable lead hazard assessment and management.