Electronic "Nose" Smells Toxins
Kenneth S. Suslick, Ph.D.,
University of Illinois
NIEHS Grant U01ES016011
A modern-day sophisticated version of the canary in the coal mine has been developed by NIEHS grantees at the University of Illinois. As part of the NIH Genes, Environment and Health Initiative, the university researchers teamed up with a small biotechnology firm and developed a postage-sized sensor that detects poisonous gases and changes color to demonstrate the detection.
When the sensor is fully developed, it will be useful for detecting exposures to toxic materials in industrial and laboratory settings. While nuclear power workers, medical personnel, and other people working with radiation wear badges to monitor their exposure, such technology does not exist as yet for chemicals. The investigators hope to be able to market the device with two years. And since the device monitors a variety of toxins, it can be customized for specific industrial settings. The sensor is engineered such that the level of exposure can also be determined.
The developmental sensor detects 19 representative toxic industrial chemicals, including ammonia, chlorine, nitric acid, and sulfur dioxide. In testing, the sensors were exposed to the chemicals for two minutes. Most of the chemicals were identified by the array color change in a matter of seconds and almost all were detected within two minutes.
Citation: Lim SH, Feng L, Kemling JW, Musto CH, Suslick KS. An optoelectronic nose for the detection of toxic gases. Nature Chemistry. 2009 Sep 13; 1:562-7.
▲ Up: Prostate Gene Polymorphism Linked to Bladder Cancer (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2009/prostate/index.cfm)
▼ Down: Arsenic and Heart Arrhythmia (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/sep/2009/arsenic/index.cfm)
