New personal system will detect most harmful compounds in the air

Many everyday products, from deodorants to pesticides and paints, emit

molecules: they can be harmful or dangerous to human health. If you inhale enough of them, you can potentially cause serious health problems.

But this influence is difficult to assess becauseCurrent air-analysis devices are limited in the number of compounds they can detect, and they only work over a certain area.

The authors of the new work have created a personal air sampling system that detects a huge range of compounds harmful and hazardous to health.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) - Majorsource of air pollution. Compounds are formed from household products, various types of fuel, such as gasoline, and also during industrial processes. Depending on the type of VOCs and their amount in the air, a person can experience problems ranging from nasal irritation to tumors.

New Personal Air Sampling System -It is nano-pore silica, which sits in a case about the size and width of a credit card: you can attach it to your clothes and carry it with you everywhere.

Silica or OSU-6 binds VOCs in itstiny pores with weak electrical attraction. Since these bonds are of a physical rather than chemical nature, the material can bind to a wide range of compounds.

The Airotect system development team is currently experimenting with other configurations for storing silica, such as placing it in a pen or badge.

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