The new paint standard describes the use of X-Ray fluorescence in lead detection.

Apr 28, 2026

ASTM International’s paint and related coatings, materials, and applications committee (D01) has approved a new standard that will be used to help determine the presence and quantify the amount of lead in new enamel paint samples.

Lead in new paint continues to be a threat to human health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries that lack regulatory limits or have limited capacity to enforce existing regulations at the 90-parts-per-million (ppm) limit recommended by the United Nations Environmental Programme’s Model Law and Guidance for Regulating Lead Paint. The new standard (D8661) presents an accessible, less expensive, and less time-consuming method for determining lead in new paint samples using X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) over methods such as inductively coupled plasma—optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and supports the 90-ppm regulatory limit.

According to ASTM member Caryn Seney, using XRF analyzers eliminates the need for complex sample preparation such as acid digestion of paint, as well as the upkeep, maintenance, and operation of conventional spectrometers. This standard will especially be helpful in low- and middle-income countries where access to conventional spectrometers and consumables is limited.

“The new standard provides a tool that regulators and scientists can use to limit exposure to lead and lead-based compounds, reducing the risk associated with lead-based paint,” says Seney. As such, this effort directly relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #3 on good health and well-being because exposure to lead can result in numerous debilitating, life-long health issues, particularly in vulnerable populations.

Stakeholders in the manufacturing, industrial, and academic sectors are encouraged to participate in an interlaboratory study of D8661 by providing certified lab testing capabilities to validate the method.

ASTM welcomes participation in the development of its standards. Join ASTM.

U.N. Sustainable Development Goals Supported: