Handwipe disclosing method for the presence of lead
First Claim
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1. A method for the detection of lead on a surface suspected of lead contamination, said method comprising:
- (a) wiping the surface with a handwipe whereby residue containing lead contamination, if present on the surface, is retained and collected on the handwipe;
(b) solubilizing any lead collected on the handwipe with an acidic aqueous solution having a pH of about 1 to about 5, wherein the acidic solution is not present on the handwipe during step (a) and, wherein the lead is solubilized on the handwipe;
(c) treating the solubilized lead with an anion selected from the group consisting of rhodizonate or sulfide; and
(d) observing the color formed in step (c);
wherein, if lead is present on the surface, the color formed is pink to red if the anion is rhodizonate or the color is brown to black if the anion is sulfide.
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Abstract
A method of detecting lead contamination of a surface is disclosed. A handwipe issued to collect any lead contamination on the surface. The lead is solubilized with an aqueous acid solution and treated with rhodizonate or sulfide anions. A change in color from pink to red, where rhodizonate anions are used, or brown to black, where sulfide anions are used, is indicative of the presence of lead. The method is suitable for testing surfaces such as floors, walls, windowsills, and human skin.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for the detection of lead on a surface suspected of lead contamination, said method comprising:
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(a) wiping the surface with a handwipe whereby residue containing lead contamination, if present on the surface, is retained and collected on the handwipe;
(b) solubilizing any lead collected on the handwipe with an acidic aqueous solution having a pH of about 1 to about 5, wherein the acidic solution is not present on the handwipe during step (a) and, wherein the lead is solubilized on the handwipe;
(c) treating the solubilized lead with an anion selected from the group consisting of rhodizonate or sulfide; and
(d) observing the color formed in step (c);
wherein, if lead is present on the surface, the color formed is pink to red if the anion is rhodizonate or the color is brown to black if the anion is sulfide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for the detection of lead on human skin suspected of lead contamination, said method comprising:
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(a) wiping the skin with a handwipe whereby residue containing lead contamination, if present on the skin, is retained and collected on the handwipe;
(b) solubilizing lead in the residue containing lead contamination collected on the handwipe with an acidic aqueous solution;
(c) treating the solubilized lead with an anion selected from the group consisting of rhodizonate or sulfide; and
(d) observing the color formed in step (c);
wherein, if lead is present on the surface, the color formed is pink to red if the anion is rhodizonate or the color formed is brown to black if the anion is sulfide. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 20)
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14. A method for evaluating the effectiveness of washing for removal of lead from an area of human skin, said method comprising:
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(a) selecting an area of human skin in which the effectiveness of washing for removal of lead is to be evaluated;
(b) washing the area of human skin to remove lead;
(c) wiping the washed area of human skin with a handwipe whereby residue containing lead contamination, if remaining on the area of the human skin after washing, is retained and collected on the handwipe;
(d) solubilizing lead from the residue containing the contamination collected on the handwipe with an acidic aqueous solution having a pH of about 1 to about 5;
(e) treating the solubilizing lead with an anion selected from the group consisting of rhodizonate or sulfide; and
(f) observing the color formed in step (e);
wherein, if lead remains on the area of human skin after washing, the color formed is pink to red if the anion is rhodizonate or the color formed is brown to black if the anion is sulfide. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21)
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Specification