SensNews Nov 2017

11 Sensor100 November 2017 Agriculture and Food SimpleWaterTest Could Prevent Crippling Bone Disease High levels of fluoride weakens bones Whilst low amounts of fluoride are beneficial for healthy teeth, high levels of flu- oride can weaken bones, leading to skeletal fluorosis.This disease causes crippling deformities of the spine and joints, especially in children whose skeletons are still forming. Levels of fluoride in drinking water are routinely monitored and con- trolled at treatment works in developed countries. However in areas of the world where there is no piped water system or treatment works, people rely on draw- ing untreated water from wells, which can often be contaminated with higher than recommended levels of fluoride. The amounts of fluoride in the groundwater can vary due to weather events, with levels fluctuating hugely when there is a lot of rain. A research team at the University of Bath’s Centre for Sustainable Chemical Tech- nologies, and the Water Innovation and Research Centre (WIRC), led by Simon Lewis, has developed a simple colour-changing test that detects high levels of fluoride quickly and selectively. Whilst the test is at the proof of concept stage, the team aims to develop it into a disposable test strip that is low cost and easy to use by anyone. Reported by: Technology Networks November 17 Low-cost Chemical-Responsive Adhesive Sensing Chips Researchers at Monash University,Austra- lia, have developed what they call Chemical Responsive Adhesive Tape (CAT). In contact with lquids or solids, the tape can reveal contaminants e.g in food or water Reported by: ACS Applied Materials Novem- ber 29, 2017 The chemical symbols for heavy metals appear when a new low-cost, tape- based sensor detects them in water or powder. Credit:American Chemical Society