MELBOURNE, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Researchers in Australia have developed a portable biosensor capable of rapidly detecting toxic "forever chemicals" in water.
The device is potentially transforming environmental monitoring of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of more than 15,000 synthetic chemicals, a statement from Australia's La Trobe University said Thursday.
PFAS, used in firefighting foams, food packaging and stain-resistant materials, are highly persistent in the environment and have been linked to cancer and other serious health risks, it said.
The device, created by La Trobe University's Biomedical and Environmental Sensor Technology (BEST) Research Center, can identify PFAS contamination on site, removing the need to send samples to specialist laboratories, according to the study published in ACS Sensors.
The sensor specifically detects perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one of the most regulated PFAS compounds, and provides a simple on-the-spot "yes or no" result, said the study's lead researcher Henry Bellette from La Trobe University.
"Most PFAS testing relies on expensive laboratory equipment and specialist analysis, which makes regular monitoring difficult," Bellette said.
Saimon Moraes Silva, who heads the BEST research center, said portable detection tools could enable more frequent testing, particularly in regional and remote areas, and guide where detailed laboratory analysis is needed.
The team hopes to integrate the technology into a handheld device for environmental monitoring and water screening. ■
