Includes bibliographical references (p. 8-1). The study was managed by EPA and conducted collaboratively by Westat and Midwest Research Institute (MRI) under contract to EPA. "EPA 747-R-98-008." "October1998."

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recommended using a general all-purpose cleaner or a cleaner made specifically for lead for weekly cleaning of residential surfaces. EPA also recommends the use of trisodium phosphate (TSP) detergent to clean lead-contaminated dust from surfaces after residential lead hazard control work to achieve post-abatement clearance standards. Because of negative effects of phosphate detergents on aquatic ecosystems, EPA conducted a laboratory study in 1996/97 to evaluate the cleaning efficacy of many commercial household cleaners that could be used to remove lead-contaminated dust from residential surfaces. The study results suggested that low surface tension cleaners remove marginally more lead dust than high surface tension cleaners. The present study is a follow-up to the previous study. The effect of surface tension and phosphate content on cleaning efficacy was further investigated using a wider range of these parameters and a single household cleaner. Surfaces soiled with lead-containing soil were cleaned with a sponge, then half were wiped with a baby wipe. All cleaned surfaces were cored, and all sponges, wipes, and core samples were analyzed for lead. This study showed that surface tension and phosphate content had no statistically significant effect on residual lead found on the test surfaces. The weak link found in the previous study between these parameters and cleaning efficacy could neither be refuted nor strengthened.