Arsenic biosensor successfully field-tested

February 9th, 2006

A biosensor used to detect arsenic in water has been successfully applied in the field for the first time by a team of researchers from Eawag and the universities of Hanoi (Vietnam) and Lausanne. The newly developed test provides significantly more reliable results than the chemical kits previously used in the field. In addition, it permits rapid analysis of large numbers of samples, is inexpensive and can be used directly in the regions concerned without the need for sophisticated laboratory equipment. The article published by the research team in «Environmental Science and Technology» was today selected as the ES&T top technology paper for 2005.

Media release [pdf; in German only]
Press photos

Publication in ES&T [pdf]