Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Model Lead Based Paint Risk Assessor Practice Test

What is the role of a risk assessment in lead exposure evaluation?

1. To provide immediate removal strategies for lead-based paint

2. To determine the average lead concentration in the air

3. To evaluate lead hazards and suggest control measures

4. To document compliance with real estate laws

The correct answer is: To evaluate lead hazards and suggest control measures

The role of a risk assessment in lead exposure evaluation is fundamentally to evaluate lead hazards and suggest control measures. A risk assessment involves systematic identification and analysis of potential sources of lead exposure, particularly from lead-based paint, dust, and soil. By understanding the extent and nature of these hazards, public health professionals can recommend appropriate strategies to mitigate risk, such as abatement, encapsulation, or other control measures that may be necessary to protect occupants, especially children who are most vulnerable to lead poisoning. In contrast, the other options address aspects that are not encapsulated in the primary goal of a risk assessment. Immediate removal strategies do not necessarily reflect the precautionary approach that a risk assessment follows; it aims to understand first before taking action. While assessing lead concentration in air can be a facet of environmental monitoring, it is not the comprehensive evaluation or control strategy that a risk assessment embodies. Additionally, documenting compliance with real estate laws is a regulatory obligation and not a core function of risk assessments, which focus more broadly on health hazards and protective measures rather than legal adherence.