A wearable sensing system for assessment of exposures to environmental volatile organic compounds

Abstract

A portable chemical sensing system that integrates sample preconcentration, separation and detection as well as wireless communication functionalities into a compact, wearable format can provide continuous and real-time monitoring of volatile organic compounds in the environment. The sensing modality relies on tuning forks coated with molecularly imprinted polymers that, in conjunction with sample preconcentration, offer selective detection down to parts-per-billion levels. The use of capillary columns allows individual components of complex mixtures to be detected at these highly sensitive levels even in the presence of interferents. The wireless capability facilitates the utilization of a paired smartphone as the user interface as well as a vehicle for additional processing and storage of the measured data. This integrated approach offers a cost-effective and reliable platform for personal exposure assessment.