Center for Bioelectronics and Biosensors, The Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-5801, USA.
J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol. 2011 Jul-Aug;21(4):419-26. doi: 10.1038/jes.2010.35. Epub 2010 Jun 16.
A wearable monitor that can reliably, accurately, and continuously measure personal exposure levels of various toxicants would not only accelerate the current environmental and occupational health and safety studies, but also enable new studies that are not possible with the current monitoring technology. Developing such a monitor has been a difficult challenge, and requires innovative sensing science and creative engineering. We have developed, built, and tested a wearable monitor for real-time detection of toxic hydrocarbons and acids in the environment. The monitor is low-cost, accurate, and user friendly. In addition, it can communicate wirelessly with a cell phone in which the monitoring results can be processed, displayed, stored, and transmitted to a designated computer. We have validated the functions and performance of the monitor, and carried out field tests with workers involving waste management, fire overhaul, and floor-cleaning activities, as well as with first- and second-hand smokers. The averaged exposure levels are in agreement with those determined by the standard NIOSH methods. The monitor provides accurate and real-time exposure assessment for the workers involving different activities. The real-time and continuous monitoring capability makes it possible to correlate the exposure levels with different activities and changes in the microenvironments. The monitor provides unprecedented real-time information that will help advance occupational safety and environmental health studies. It may also be used to better protect workers from occupational overexposure to toxic molecules.
一种能够可靠、准确、连续地测量个人接触各种有毒物质水平的可穿戴式监测器不仅会加速当前的环境和职业健康与安全研究，而且还能够开展当前监测技术无法开展的新研究。开发这种监测器是一项艰巨的挑战，需要创新的传感科学和创造性的工程。我们已经开发、制造并测试了一种可穿戴式监测器，用于实时检测环境中的有毒碳氢化合物和酸。该监测器成本低、准确且易于使用。此外，它可以与手机进行无线通信，在手机中可以处理、显示、存储和传输监测结果到指定的计算机。我们已经验证了监测器的功能和性能，并在涉及废物管理、火灾检修和地板清洁活动的工人以及一手和二手吸烟者中进行了现场测试。平均暴露水平与 NIOSH 标准方法确定的水平一致。该监测器为涉及不同活动的工人提供了准确和实时的暴露评估。实时和连续监测能力使得有可能将暴露水平与不同的活动和微环境的变化相关联。该监测器提供了前所未有的实时信息，将有助于推进职业安全和环境卫生研究。它也可能被用于更好地保护工人免受职业性接触有毒分子的过度暴露。
