BY SUNDIP R. DOSHI
Air & Health
We take 20,000 breaths every day and each and every breath is susceptible to tens of thousands of gases in the environment. In many cases, they have a negative impact on our health. These gases range from your typical air pollution gases, to exposure from a new furniture or flooring you installed, to gases you are exposed to at work and at home when a new cleaning chemical is introduced to your environment and the list goes on and on.
Many will say “Oh I don’t live in Beijing, or New Delhi, or Los Angeles and I don’t see any air pollution around me so I don’t have to worry too much about it. In fact, look at me, I am healthy.”
As humanity takes a leap into the future, so does the creation of new diseases and disorders
The scary thing is – it’s not about what you can see but rather breathing in what you can’t see that may have serious consequential short and long term health impacts or even death! As humanity takes a leap into the future, so does the creation of new diseases and disorders. Often one is exposed to these diseases through the simple task of breathing. Perhaps it’s time to care more about these 20,000 breaths we take each and everyday.
Nano Gas Sensors
So, how do nano gas sensors even remotely related to our health? There has been tremendous innovation behind nanotechnology – the understanding and control of matter at dimensions between approximately 1 and 100 nano-meters, where unique phenomena enable novel applications. This is tiny stuff!
a human hair is approximately 100,000 nano-meters wide
Encompassing nano-scale science, engineering, and technology, nanotechnology is allowing innovation in the ability to detect very specific tiny gases (parts-per-billion) in the environment. The science aspect of how this is accomplished is truly fascinating – incorporating disciplines from chemistry, engineering, and data science. Don’t worry, I won’t turn this article into a science class! 🙂
1 part-per-billion = 1 blade of grass on a football field
Leaping into the Future being Healthy
The innovation in nanotechnology results in small, powerful nano gas sensors that can easily be embedded into gadgets that we are all accustomed to using such as smartphones, wearables, refrigerators, smoke detectors, the internet of things (IoT) devices and the list goes on.
Nano gas sensors are able to detect gases in the environment that can immediately inform the consumer of potential health risks. So, now you will be able to avoid certain environments or control conditions in your immediate surroundings because you know. You know what you are breathing and there is something you will be able to do about it!
The days of old bulky gas sensors traditionally used for industrial and commercial use is quickly being transformed into sexy nano gas sensors for the betterment of our health and wellness.
Yup – we are turning nano gas sensors into sexy lean mean health machines!
This is one disruptive technology that I look forward to being part of as it will have a huge impact on all lives for generations to come.
