NCPHD Is Using a New Lead-Detecting Tool to Test Household Items in the Community
NCPHD Is Using a New Lead-Detecting Tool to Test Household Items in the Community
Date: May 12, 2026
To: All Media
From: Martha McInnes, Director, North Central Public Health District
Contact: Mikey Goyette, Communications Coordinator, NCPHD, mikeyg@ncphd.org
North Central Public Health District (NCPHD) is happy to announce the purchase of a handheld X‑ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzer, which detects and measures lead in materials like paint, soil, and other consumer products. Outside of Multnomah County, NCPHD is the only local public health department in Oregon to have the tool, and we will be using it beyond Wasco and Sherman Counties as needed.
Zachary Hale, Epidemiologist at NCPHD, is a certified lead risk assessor trained to operate the XRF tool. He will be using the device for on-site lead investigations to identify the cause of raised levels in children, and he will be attending community events to allow our community to test household items for lead content.
NCPHD will be at the Wasco County Children’s Fair on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and we urge the public to bring items to test. Likely objects include paint, soil, toys, ceramics, dishware, jewelry, and cosmetics. Vintage and international items are especially likely to contain lead.
Martha McInnes, NCPHD Director, said, “This is great news for our Columbia Gorge communities. There’s no safe lead level for kids, and we’re working to prevent or catch exposures before damage happens.”
For soil, take samples from areas with visible bare soil: house driplines (near the foundation), play areas, and garden beds. Scrape away debris so you are only collecting soil, and dig up the top two inches of soil, filling a sandwich bag about halfway. If you are sampling multiple areas, label each bag with its location.
For paint, use a utility knife to score a small square (about 2” x 2”) and gently peel the chip away from the wall or trim with a scraper. Let the chip fall onto a tray, and slide the chip into a plastic bag. Be sure to promptly clean up any dust or debris you create.
The XRF analyzer was funded through the Oregon Health Authority’s Program Element 51-02, which implements regional strategies to improve communicable disease control, emergency preparedness and response, and environmental health service capabilities.
If you cannot make the Children’s Fair, call (541) 506-2600, and we will try to coordinate a test. For more information, visit ncphd.org/leadsafety, or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/northcentralpublichealth.)
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