New sensors could show your wildfire smoke exposure immediately

Breathing in too much wildfire smoke can cause lung and heart troubles. Now, sensors developed in part by Washington State University could test your smoke exposure before health problems crop up.

The sensors are kind of like a pregnancy test. Same method on a paper strip, but the patented sensors deliver much more sensitive measurements. 

“ Our technology gives you exactly … how much you are exposed,” said Annie Du, a research professor in WSU’s School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, who is leading the project.

The goal is to rapidly detect wildfire smoke exposure before it does permanent damage to the heart or lungs, she said.

“With the early diagnostic, you can take rest or use oxygen to help you recover,” Du said.

Current ways to test for smoke exposure aren’t quick, portable or user-friendly, according to the study, which was published in the journal ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.

These new paper sensors test for smoke biomarkers. It uses specially developed nanomaterials to detect the biomarkers.

“The nanomaterials are a tiny  flower shape (that) amplifies the signal,” Du said. “So in this case, we can enhance the sensitivity for the low-dose exposure.”

That’s different from paper sensor strips used for pregnancy or COVID-19 tests, Du said. Those tests aren’t as sensitive and use gold nanomaterials.

The researchers developed the flower-like particles of palladium and platinum and patented them in 2022, she said.

How are the results read? Researchers made a 3-D printed reader and lens that fits onto all types of smartphones. Then, results are shown on an app. 

The magnifying lens attachment helps the reader pick up very subtle changes in the test strip’s color, Du said.

“The smartphone camera can read the test strip. You can see the colors, but your eyes cannot tell the difference, (like) if the color is too dark or too light. The camera can tell you the difference,” Du said.

The test results are personalized, which is important because smoke exposure can vary, even on the same fire lines or in nearby neighborhoods, she said.

This summer, wildland firefighters are field testing the sensors. The sensors are also being developed by WSU’s Office of Commercialization, Du said. So one day, it might show up on pharmacy shelves.

The project was funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.