Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41275048›Full record

ArticleJournal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology2026

Using colorimetric wipes to characterize lead surface levels in lead-exposed construction workers' homes and vehicles.

Diana M Ceballos, Yuxin Wu, Maria Bermudez, Jonathan I Levy, Noah A Buncher, Nicholas T Basta, M Pilar Botana Martinez, Junenette L Peters

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Diana M CeballosDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. dmco25@uw.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8789-2528
Yuxin WuDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
Maria BermudezDepartment of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Jonathan I LevyDepartment of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Noah A BuncherChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Nicholas T BastaCollege of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
M Pilar Botana MartinezDepartment of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
Junenette L PetersDepartment of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLead home investigations following the confirmation of a lead-poisoned child in the home require a lead-certified technician using an X-ray-fluorescence (XRF) portable analyzer, but XRFs are not always available. Colorimetric surface wipes that immediately change color on a gradient from yellow-to-red with lead could address this gap, but they have not been tested or utilized extensively in non-occupational settings.

objectiveTo understand the usability of colorimetric wipes in lead home investigations with different potential sources of lead.

methodsWe collected 104 colorimetric wipes to assess lead levels on surfaces from nine homes and seven vehicles from lead-exposed construction workers living with children. Colorimetric wipe results (n = 81) were compared with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy laboratory analysis.

resultsLead was detected on 46(58%) of home surface wipes, with highest percentage of red wipes from surfaces in kitchen, followed by entrance, living room, bedroom, and laundry room samples. For vehicle surface wipes, 17 (71%) detected lead, with the highest percent of red wipes in the trunk, followed by back and front seat areas. Wipe color readings were significantly and positively correlated with laboratory analysis (Kendall's τ = 0.42). At the 18 μg/sample threshold (i.e., level at which the wipe is expected to turn pink/red), the method showed high specificity (87%), moderate accuracy (78%), high negative predictive value (87%), and low false positive rate (13%). Of the wipes above 10 µg/sample public-health lead guideline, 80% changed color, suggesting high sensitivity. IMPACT: The dissemination of colorimetric wipes for lead home investigations can reduce costs and improve the immediate screening of lead dust-contaminated surfaces in residential settings. Colorimetric wipes proved invaluable in identifying sources from lead take-home and lead-in-paint in the homes and vehicles of lead-exposed construction workers.

Indexed as

ColorimetryConstruction IndustryEnvironmental MonitoringLeadOccupational ExposureHousingHumansMotor VehiclesLeadColorimetric wipesConstruction workersHomeLeadSurface wipesVehicles

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.