Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between flooring classification in residential homes and blood-lead levels in children. Government guidelines have widely recommended trisodium phosphate (TSP) and to a lesser extent, "lead specific" cleaning detergents for removal of lead contaminated dust from hard surfaces, such as linoleum or wood floors and window areas. A recent study sponsored by the EPA demonstrated that many general cleaning agents can remove lead from hard surfaces without high levels of TSP, but this investigation did not examine the removal efficiency using actual house dust embedded into worn or abraded surfaces.

The purpose of this investigation is to determine if low phosphate, non-lead specific cleaners can be used to efficiently remove lead contaminated dust from hard surfaces under varying conditions of wear and dust composition. Three major hypotheses are posed: 1) surface type, surface wear, and dust composition will affect the removal of lead contaminated dust from surfaces; 2) low phosphate, general purpose floor detergents do not differ in cleaning efficiency than TSP; and 3) low phosphate, general purpose floor detergents do not differ in cleaning efficiency than lead specific cleaning agents. Findings from this study will be used toward selection of cleaning agents which are efficient for removal of lead contaminated dust from various surfaces while being widely available and which pose minimal risk to the user or environment.