Lead at Superfund Sites: Frequent Questions from Risk Assessors on the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic (IEUBK) Model

The following frequent questions on the IEUBK model have been divided into four categories:

General Questions

Does the IEUBK model address lead in ground water?

Yes, the IEUBK model can be used to assess exposures from lead in ground water.

What is a time step and how does it affect IEUBK model predictions?

“Time step” is a variable that determines what averaging time is used to define average daily intakes of lead. For example, if the default time step is considered to be one year (because point estimates may be specified for each year of the seven years of exposure), choosing a time step of one month would result in dividing the lead intake by 12. However, integrating the monthly exposures over a one-year period results in essentially the same lead intake as a one-year time step. For this reason, the IEUBK model predictions of blood lead concentrations for each age group are essentially independent of the choice of the modeling time step.

Does the variable describing the half maximum saturation of lead apply to the absorbed dose of lead or the total lead intake?

The IEUBK model first quantifies the fraction of each media-specific intake that is bioaccessible or available for absorption in the gut. Total intake is calculated as a function of two processes described as saturable and nonsaturable (passive and active uptake in the IEUBK Technical Support Document). The quantity of lead absorbed by the saturable pathway is a function of the total lead available in the gut, the fraction assumed to be absorbed via facilitated passive (PAF) diffusion, and the SATINTAKE variable, which is age specific. Thus, the SATINTAKE variable applies to the intake that is available for absorption.

Does the saturable component only make a difference at intakes greater than 100 micrograms per day (µg/day)?

The non-linearity observed in the intake/uptake relationship from the IEUBK model may be more obvious at higher intake rates (i.e., 100 µg/day or more), but this is only because the equation for a rectangular hyperbola defines the observed curve. At low doses, the relationship is still non-linear, but it is not as obvious.

What is the appropriate role for a blood lead study?

Blood lead studies are most appropriately used for public health monitoring, prioritizing action at sites, and identifying children at risk. Achieving health protection goals depends on an adequate characterization of the lead sources present in a community. Thus, in responding to sites with environmental contamination, EPA is concerned about not only the aggregate community-wide risk, but also the risks to individuals (and particularly children) living at residential locations with high levels of lead contamination.

For more information on blood lead studies see: OLEM Directive 9285.6-52 “Recommendations for Using Blood Lead Data at Superfund and RCRA Corrective Action Sites”

EPA guidance on "Calculating Upper Confidence Limits" says that the TRW guidance recommends using average concentrations instead of upper confidence limits (UCLs) (footnote on page two). Where specifically is this recommendation found?

The arithmetic mean should be entered for soil lead concentration data in the IEUBK model. From the IEUBK User's Guide (section 2.3.4): "The PbS [soil lead concentration term] be the arithmetic mean of the concentration of Pb in the soil that a child is likely to be exposed to."

The IEUBK model can use an upper confidence limit (UCL); however, the interpretation for the model results is somewhat different if a UCL is used. If an arithmetic mean (or average) is used, the model provides a central point estimate for risk of an elevated blood lead level. If a UCL is used, the model result could be interpreted as a more conservative estimate of the risk of an elevated blood lead level.

TRW Recommendations Regarding Gardening and Reducing Exposure to Lead Contamination in Soil

For most common garden vegetables, the uptake of metals is not very high. For the most part, exposures would tend to come from consuming adhered soil on unwashed produce (i.e., fruits, such as tomatoes, would be less of a problem than roots or tubers, although these are frequently scrubbed or peeled before consumption). Nevertheless, EPA generally cautions against gardening in areas of known contamination. Also, it may be advisable to NOT consume produce from a garden in the drip line of a home or building structure or from areas where contamination is known to be located.

Another source of exposure related to gardening is handling/intensive contact with contaminated soil and the potential for tracking the contaminated soil into the house (on tools, shoes, or clothing). Vegetables, hands, clothing, and tools should be cleaned before being brought indoors to reduce tracking contaminated soil into the residence.

While 200 parts per million (ppm) lead in soil is generally considered an appropriate screening level for soil lead (unrestricted residential contact to soils where the bioavailability is not greater than default assumption), EPA recommends building raised beds with clean topsoil (no greater than 50 ppm lead) for gardening. In addition, some communities offer free or low-cost plots of clean soil for urban vegetable gardening (community gardens). These recommendations address concerns with track-in of contaminated soil and possible consumption of unwashed produce.

In addition, the USDA has prepared a fact sheet that discusses health risks of lead in garden soil.

Age Range FAQ

Why does the IEUBK model software allow 0-84 month age range when the 12-72 month age range is recommended for Superfund site risk assessment?

The November 2017 OLEM Directive 9200.2-1, “Recommendations for Default Age Range in the IEUBK Model”, recommends the 12-72 month age range for lead risk assessment at Superfund sites. The IEUBK model software retains the flexibility to run the full 0-84 month age range for which the IEUBK model was validated, because the TRW Lead Committee recognizes that there may be users who require this information. For example, other program offices and researchers who may be interested in the full 7 – year age range also use the IEUBK model. Also, there may be site-specific exposures where older children (for example, 72-84 month trespassers) are considered.

OLEM Directive 9200.2-1 and other directives are available at:
https://www.epa.gov/superfund/lead-superfund-sites-guidance#IEUBKModel

Input Parameters

Does the ALTERNATE SOURCE variable allow the input of different bioavailability values for intake?

The ALTERNATE SOURCE variable allows the user to change from the default value (0 percent) by selecting  GI/BIO under the “GI Values/Bioavailability” section of the “Alternate Source Data” window. After selecting GI/BIO, the user is notified about changing default values only with adequate and defensible site-specific data. The user is also advised to consult the Technical Support Document for the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic Model for Lead in Children [NTIS #PB94-963505, EPA 9285.7-22] (December 1994), available on the Software and Users' Manuals page, for a description of bioavailability. The user should select OK to access the next screen, where changes to the bioavailability of the alternate source variable can be made. Select OK again to return to the initial screen. A HELP screen is available to further assist the user.

If the soil concentration is changed, does the dust concentration also have to be changed or should it be left as the default unless site-specific data are available?

By selecting the multiple source analysis option, the IEUBK model would automatically calculate the corresponding dust lead concentration from the user-entered soil lead concentration.

Does the IEUBK model allow for the modeling of formula-fed infants ages zero to 12 months assuming the formula is reconstituted with drinking water?

Diet items include:

  • dairy
  • meat
  • canned vegetables and fruits
  • juices
  • fresh vegetables and fruits
  • nuts
  • bread
  • pasta
  • beverage
  • candy
  • sauce
  • formula
  • infant items (non-formula items)

Rather than calculating intakes from ingestion rates and concentrations, lead exposure from each food item including formula is collectively estimated by the total dietary lead intake estimates for each one-year age group.

Drinking water is defined as the portion of total water intake that is consumed as direct tap water (see EPA’s 2011 Exposure Factors Handbook). Tap water may be ingested directly as a beverage, or indirectly as an additive to prepared foods. The IEUBK model accounts for lead intake from direct tap water consumption via the  Water menu, and lead intake from indirect tap water consumption via the Diet menu. EPA provides tap water ingestion rates in liters per day (L/day) for infants that includes indirect tap water used in baby formula.

How can I derive a site-specific geometric standard deviation (GSD)?

In general, the TRW does not recommend attempting site-specific GSD estimates. This parameter is particularly difficult to evaluate at a site, as it is demanding with regard to the amount and quality of the data and the potential complications in the analysis. Unless there are substantial differences in child behavior and lead biokinetics at your site, the default GSD should be used (since it is based on national averages). Thus, site-specific GSD values should not be needed (see the Guidance Manual for the IEUBK, EPA 1994, page 4-25, Section 4.2.2, available for download from the Guidance page). In particular, the TRW recommends not substituting site-specific GSD estimates for the default value without detailed, scientifically defensible studies documenting site-specific differences in child behavior or lead biokinetics (see the IEUBKwin User's Guide, page 42, Section 2.3.8, available for download from the Software and Users' Manuals page).

If the blood and environmental lead studies are to be useful for the lead risk assessment, priority needs to be placed on complete reporting of the study. Adequate written documentation would include final study protocols, completed quality assurance documentation (for blood and environmental lead measurements), and adequately reviewed written reports of study findings. The study report should fully address:

  1. Subject selection procedures and participation rates.
  2. Timing of all contacts by investigators with study participants.
  3. Background information on lead provided to the study cohort prior to and during recruitment, sampling or other activities.
  4. Information made available to the community about lead and this study prior to and during initiation.
  5. Results of the environmental sampling and associated quality assurance.
  6. Results of blood lead sampling and associated quality assurance.
  7. Pertinent demographic and behavioral data collected during the study.

One component of the final study report should be a paired data set (by child and household) with blood lead and environmental lead measurements, sampling dates, and pertinent behavioral and demographic information (including time spent in day care and other settings away from the home).

The TRW strongly recommends writing up and reviewing any community blood lead studies independent of other site documentation (i.e., separate from the site risk assessment). The site risk assessment would certainly draw on the results of the blood lead investigation; however, the reporting of the blood lead study should be adequate to stand alone. Hopefully, this approach may also allow a rapid completion of the blood lead study and aid in site decision-making.

What should I know before attempting to change the default soil ingestion rate?

The short sheet IEUBK Model Soil/Dust Ingestion Rates discusses the earlier review of soil ingestion studies to determine if adjustments to the soil ingestion rates used in the IEUBK model are warranted.

The TRW Lead Committee reviewed the soil ingestion literature published since the short sheet was written to assess whether data from recent studies indicated changes to the soil ingestion rates were warranted. Based on its review, the TRW concluded that the recent literature supported changes in the default soil ingestion rates from those in the 1994 version of the IEUBK model. Likewise, a recent independent review by EPA's National Center for Environmental Assessment in the Child-Specific Exposure Factors Handbook supported changes to the recommended estimate of the mean soil ingestion rate for children. The TRW Lead Committee recommended soil dust ingestion rates that are in IEUBK Version 2 are supported by the Exposure Factors Handbook analysis.

Batch Mode

How many significant digits are read from a batch mode input file?

The IEUBK model considers only two significant digits (to the right of the decimal point) from the data input file for running batch mode. When entering other input parameters, the user may enter values with as many as six significant figures; however, no more than 3 digits to the right of the decimal point are written to the parameter (*.svd) file. The IEUBK uses up to seven digits in all calculations. All output is generally written with three digits to the right of the decimal point. However, it should be noted that the true precision of any calculated output can be strongly influenced by the least precise input value. See Appendix C for further details about IEUBK precision.

Why is the predicted blood lead concentration (PbB) value not zero of lead per deciliter of blood (µg/dL) when input values are all zeros?

The PbB value includes contribution from all sources of exposure and the contribution from other dietary sources is always present.

From a list of batch input files, can the IEUBK model automatically read the next source file?

Yes, multiple batch input files may be entered into the queue.

How can batch mode be used to calculate future risk?

For future scenarios, or in the absence of age data for each residence, the TRW recommends that the 32-month age group be used in batch mode runs. This age result approximates the 12- to 72-month average calculated in single run mode. Although some slight differences result between the geometric mean blood lead concentration (PbB) and P10 value for the 32-month age group compared to the 12- to 72-month average, the differences in the results are so small that they are not expected to affect site decisions.

Sampling

Can the recommended holding times be exceeded for analysis of lead in soil samples?

Current EPA recommendations are that holding times for metals analysis of soils should not exceed six months. However, in its 2005 Sample Holding Time Reevaluation (PDF)(329 pp, 2 MB) study, EPA evaluated sample holding times for metals analysis of soils and found that for a holding time of one year, no chemically significant change in concentration occurred. This study also found no significant difference between moist or dry sample handling. In addition, NIST and ASTM as well as other certified soil standards for metals have typical life expectancies of up to 10 years without significant changes in metal concentration under a variety of storage conditions.

Based on the soil standards and the 2005 EPA study, the TRW recommends that holding times for soil lead determination may be extended up to two years total and that refrigeration is not necessary for total soil lead (though a site-specific QAPP may specify a different holding time or storage conditions) with reasonable expectation that representative results will be obtained.

How should garden vegetable samples be collected for use in the IEUBK model?

The alternate dietary values feature of the IEUBK model enables risk assessors to predict impacts of ingestion of lead contained in locally harvested foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables and game) on blood lead concentrations of children. In addition, the dietary intake can be added using the Alternate Intake entry. These alternatives can be used when site-specific data are available to estimate both the concentration of lead in these food sources and the contributions that these food sources make to the diet of a typical child at the site or the amount of that food type that is consumed daily.

Lead exposure concentration: The exposure concentration term should represent the concentration to which children are exposed; that is, it should be an estimate of the concentration of lead in the food as prepared for ingestion. To ensure that the measurements of lead in homegrown vegetables reflect the expected exposure concentrations as closely as possible, measurements should be made on vegetables that have been prepared for ingestion. In addition, in deriving the concentration term and interpreting the results of IEUBK model runs, consideration should be given to the potential pathways by which lead may enter or be associated with homegrown vegetables.

These pathways include: 1) incorporation of lead into vegetable tissue during growth; 2) deposition of lead on the vegetables during growth or harvesting (e.g., soil-derived dust); and 3) deposition of lead on the vegetables during processing, preparation or storage (e.g., paint- or soil-derived dust). The extent to which any or all of the above pathways will be represented in measurements of lead in garden vegetables will depend on the sampling and analytical designs. Measurements made on unwashed garden samples may reflect lead deposited on the plants that might not be ingested after typical preparation of the vegetables for meals. If these data were used as alternate dietary values in the IEUBK model, the impacts of garden vegetable lead on blood lead concentrations may be overestimated. On the other hand, measurements made on washed vegetables, that might be consumed by children without washing (e.g., tomatoes), may underestimate blood lead impacts if these data were used in the model.

The above considerations emphasize the importance of establishing an exposure pathway model before designing a sampling approach that will provide adequate data to support the exposure model. This model should consider the types of vegetables most likely to be consumed by children, the pathways for lead incorporation or association of lead with those vegetables, and the ways in which the vegetables are likely to be prepared (or not prepared) for consumption by children. In addition, several potential uncertainties should also be considered in interpreting model output:

  1. How much of the lead measured in the vegetables represents soil-derived or other sources of dust, that may already be accounted for in the estimate of soil and dust lead intake?
  2. Do the lead concentrations measured in the vegetables actually reflect the lead concentrations in the vegetables consumed by the children? That is, do the children actually eat the vegetables included in the vegetable lead survey? If lead estimates for various vegetable types are averaged or aggregate samples are collected, does the distribution of the aggregate accurately reflect the distribution consumed by children? Also, is the lead measured in the vegetables actually consumed? For example, where is the lead in vegetable soup? In the stock, or the vegetables? Which was actually measured in the lead assay?
  3. Sampling bias and measurement error.

Although it may not be possible to remove these uncertainties entirely from the model, sensitivity analyses can be used to set plausible bounds on the potential impacts of the homegrown vegetable pathway on blood lead concentration.

Lead absorption: The default absorption fraction of 50 percent for lead in food at low intakes is applied to all dietary intakes, including homegrown vegetables. Unless there are data supporting this value, it may be appropriate to reduce this value. The appropriate value will depend on the source of the lead associated with the vegetables. For example, if most of the lead measured in vegetables is derived from contamination with soil-derived dust during harvesting, then the soil lead absorption factor (ABSS) of 30 percent may be more applicable. The use of a value of 50 percent for the absorption factor may result in an overestimate of the uptake of lead from ingestion of homegrown vegetables. It may be appropriate to make this a user-selectable option and explain the options in the guidance and on the help screen.

At what depth should soil samples be collected from for risk assessment purposes?

It is recommended that sampling designs be developed to provide the necessary data for all phases of a cleanup project (e.g., human and ecological risk assessment and remedial design) within one sampling effort to minimize mobilizations whenever feasible. This frequent question response provides recommendations for sampling depth for risk assessment, where the primary objective of the sampling effort is to estimate an average soil lead concentration for use in the IEUBK model. Recommendations in this FAQ response should be incorporated within the sampling design developed for the site. This frequent question response assumes that data on the extent (e.g., depth) of contamination are already available for the site (e.g., from the Site Assessment process) or will be provided pursuant to other objectives of the sampling design.

The appropriate sampling depth depends upon the conceptual site model (CSM) and the exposure scenario for the site. There may be more than one exposure scenario for the site, and therefore more than one CSM. For example, one exposure scenario on a site may be children playing in a residential yard with exposure to contaminated surface soil. The same site might also include a plausible scenario that involves the exposure of residents or construction workers to subsurface contamination (e.g., septic system repair, gardening; see the Superfund Lead-Contaminated Residential Sites Handbook, available on the Guidance page). The sampling depth should be appropriate for the exposure pathways and contaminant transport routes of concern, and should be chosen with these considerations in mind.

Keeping in mind the broader considerations above, to assess risk from current exposure to contaminated surface soils, EPA has recommended the collection of surface soil from the top two to three centimeters (zero to one inch) of the soil layer, below organic litter or sod. For more information, see the 1996 EPA Soil Screening Guidance, available on EPA’s Superfund Soil Screening Guidance Web page. The TRW and the LSW agree that this depth best represents the soil and dust exposure for predicting child blood lead level using the IEUBK model, as well as for estimating the IEUBK's mass fraction of soil to dust parameter (MSD). For example, see the Superfund Lead-Contaminated Residential Sites Handbook (2003), available on the Guidance page. See also the TRW Recommendations for Performing Human Health Risk Analysis on Small Arms Shooting Ranges (2003), available on the Guidance page.

These guidance documents recommend sampling from the top two to three centimeters (or shallowest depth that can be reasonably obtained, see below) because children are typically exposed to surface soil. These recommendations were intended to avoid using data from samples collected at depth (e.g., 0- to 6-inch depth interval) that might dilute contamination that is concentrated in the surface soils, thereby underestimating the exposure (and therefore risk) to children. If the concentration of lead is relatively homogeneous across the vertical extent of contamination, the potential for dilution does not exist; therefore, it makes no difference what depth interval the samples are collected from, provided they are collected from within the zone of relatively homogeneous contamination. If contamination is found in subsurface soils (i.e., greater than zero to one inch below the ground surface), then the risk assessment for the current exposure scenario should consider the likelihood that children may be exposed to soils at that depth, and select the sampling depth accordingly.

Samples collected at depths greater than one inch below the ground surface may also be appropriate for future use scenarios (e.g. gardening, construction activities, yard maintenance). To assess risks from exposure to contaminated subsurface soils, samples should be collected from the depth interval consistent with the applicable exposure scenario. Samples below one inch are also useful for determining where institutional controls may be needed; contamination at depth that is left in place as part of the remedial action warrants institutional controls, For more information, see the Superfund Lead-Contaminated Residential Sites Handbook (2003), available on the Guidance page.

Sampling depth also varies depending on site-specific conditions. The Risk Assessment Guidance for Superfund (RAGS) Part A (EPA, 1989) states that the assessment of surface exposures will be more certain if samples are collected from the shallowest depth that can be practically obtained. At some sites, it might be possible to collect a sufficient quantity of soil at depths less than two centimeters (e.g. 0-to-1-centimeter depth interval). At other sites, it may be difficult to obtain the required amount of soil material from the top two centimeters (e.g., due to rocks or debris). In these instances, the required quantity of sampled material should be obtained by slightly increasing the area sampled, rather than increasing the depth of the sample, to avoid the potential for diluting surface soil contamination (see above).

Finally, the exposure point concentration for each exposure scenario should be estimated with data from the depth interval(s) relevant to each scenario.

What sampling depth is most representative of surface soil and dust that is associated with exposure (both direct contact and incidental ingestion) of children? Is this sampling depth also representative of the dirt that is applicable to the mass fraction of soil in indoor dust (MSD) term?

EPA has recommended the collection of surface soil from the top two centimeters (zero to one inch) of the soil layer for use in baseline risk assessments (see the 1996 EPA Soil Screening Guidance, available on EPA’s Superfund Soil Screening Guidance Web page). The TRW agrees that this depth best represents the soil and dust exposure for use in calculation of the predicted child blood lead level using the IEUBK model as well as characterization of the MSD.

Are there any interior dust cleanup confirmation sampling protocols that should be used in addition to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) wipe sampling protocols?

Both the concentration of lead in dust and the loading of accessible dust in a home will affect the current risks to a resident child. For a full picture of risk conditions in an individual home, both types of data would be recommended. It is important to note, however, that wipe samples that address only lead loading do not allow an understanding of whether lead that is present is in the form of a small amount of high-lead-concentration dust material or a larger amount of lower-concentration material. As such, wipe samples do not provide as much information as appropriate vacuum samples from which both concentration and loading may be measured.

Considerations for sampling conducted to judge the immediate effectiveness of a dust-cleaning action will be different from considerations for sampling to develop information that can be used in risk assessment. Lead measurements taken immediately after a cleaning operation can reflect the effectiveness of that cleaning (in comparison with prior measurements), but this will likely reflect too transient a set of conditions to estimate continuing risks a child living in the house may encounter.

It is important to recognize that dust remediation does not remove lead from the dust – it removes the dust. So, immediately after a cleanup action, one might have difficulty collecting an adequate size dust sample, and it is likely to have a similar concentration to the pre-remediated dust. In the days or weeks following a cleaning, dust loadings (although not necessarily lead loadings) would be expected to increase, depending on the transport of dust materials into a home, the source of these materials and redistribution of dust within the home. Thus, samples used to predict the continued risks of children would best be collected after some amount of time has passed following a cleaning action to allow for equilibration of dust lead concentration with sources outside the home (e.g., one month or more). EPA's validated risk methodologies for lead (using the IEUBK model) require an estimate of dust concentration as an input. Lead concentration is also a good prospective indicator of risk, as it should be less subject than dust loadings to sharp changes that are expected with each normal cleaning and vacuuming cycle in a home.

A sampling method that provides loading data is appropriate for clearance confirmation; however, it does not matter whether wiping or dry-vacuuming is used, as long as a loading value can be obtained. The goal of sampling would be to demonstrate either a significant reduction (assuming that pre-remediation data are available) or achievement of a clearance standard such as the TSCA 403 standard.1

Although it is more difficult and expensive, a vacuum sampling device with a template to define the sampling area may be used to simultaneously collect: 1) lead loading; 2) dust loading; and 3) lead concentration data. This alternative is valuable if you want to use the data for both clearance and risk assessment.

The studies listed below suggest that as predictors of blood lead concentration (PbB), the results are comparable between vacuuming and wipe samples. One limitation is that these methods do not explicitly measure the rates of lead and dust deposition, unless you conduct repeat sampling.

Lanphear, B.P., Emond, M., Jacobs, D.E., Weitzman, M., Tanner, M., Winter, N.L., Yakir, B. & S. Eberly. 1995. A side-by-side comparison of dust collection methods for sampling lead-contaminated house dust. Environ Res. 68: 114-123.

Rust, S.W., Burgoon, D.A., Lanphear, B.P. & S. Eberly. 1997. Log-additive versus log-linear analysis of lead-contaminated house dust and children's blood-lead levels. Implications for residential dust-lead standards. Environ Res. 72: 173-184.

Emond, M.J., Lanphear, B.P., Watts, A. & S. Eberly. 1997. Measurement error and its impact on the estimated relationship between dust lead and children's blood lead: Members of the Rochester Lead-in-Dust Study Group. Environ Res. 72: 82-92.

1 According to the TSCA 403 Rule, a dust-lead hazard is surface dust in a residential dwelling or child-occupied facility that contains a mass-per-area concentration of lead equal to or exceeding 40 mg/ft2 on floors or 250 mg/ft2 on interior windowsills based on wipe samples.

Can the IEUBK model be used to develop a site-specific fish advisory?

Yes. In evaluating the fish consumption limits for a specific site, the IEUBK model may be used. The dietary lead input window of the IEUBK model has an option to use alternate dietary lead intake. The alternate dietary intake menu includes ingestion of game animals from hunting, fish from fishing, and homegrown fruits and vegetables. The IEUBK model uses the total lead uptake calculated from the estimated intakes of lead in all media (soil, dust, air, water, and diet) to predict mean blood lead concentration for children (84 months or younger).

The IEUBK model assumes the substitution of fish for other meat dishes, so an estimate of fish meals as a proportion of total meat meals is required for the exposure calculation. In estimating lead exposure to children from recreational fishing, appropriate inputs for percent of food class would be 10 percent for recreational fishing or as much as 50 percent for the high-end case. The average concentration of lead in fish as consumed (either filets or whole fish) is entered as concentration (µg Pb/g of fish tissue).

The IEUBK default total meat intake (grams per day) for different age groups is given as follows (See Appendix C of the System Requirements and Design Document for IEUBK Version 2):

  • zero to 11 months (12.500 g/day)
  • 12 to 23 months (29.605 g/day)
  • 24 to 35 months (38.111 g/day)
  • 36 to 47 months (40.930 g/day)
  • 48 to 59 months (43.750 g/day)
  • 60 to 71 months (47.368 g/day)
  • 72 to 84 months (54.558 g/day)

In addition, EPA Guidance for Assessing Chemical Contaminant Data for use in Fish Advisories Vol. 2 (EPA 823-B-97-009) provides for three-ounce meals (85 g/day) for children; therefore, consumption of three-ounce and an upper bound eight-ounce (85 grams and 227 grams, respectively) fish meals may also be used in the analysis. The soil and dust lead concentrations are important input values for the IEUBK model. A site-specific arithmetic mean soil lead concentration could be used, or one could calculate the 95 percent upper confidence limit (UCL) on the arithmetic mean for the site as a whole considering soil remedial action at the residential site-specific cleanup level. A site-specific dust concentration could be entered or, if these data are not available, then the Multiple Source Analysis relationship may be used.

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Last updated on January 17, 2024