Measuring air quality with a silicone wristband

The research team found that when the wristband is used as a passive sampler, it can combine with smaller molecular weight semi-volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a chemical substance naturally present in coal, crude oil, and gasoline.
Oil, natural gas, wood, garbage, and tobacco are incinerated—similar to the model of active sampling
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The study was recently published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology , and the subjects were pregnant women in Hidalgo County, southern Texas
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The purpose of this study was to quantify the PAH exposure of pregnant women living in the McAllen area
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When the researchers analyzed and compared data from the air sampling device and the wristband, they found that the wristband produced results similar to more traditional testing methods
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One of the authors of the research report and an assistant professor in the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Iza Mendoza-Sanchez, said: “The wristband is attractive because it is cheap and easy to wear
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"We found that the detection mode for low molecular weight compounds is similar.
Tying the wristband to the back strap of the backpack is a good sampling design, which can evaluate the condition of the wristband used to quantify the PAHs in the air
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Mendoza-Sanchez co-authored the study with Inyang Uwak, a recently graduated public health doctor
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Johnson said: "Mothers' exposure to PAHs during pregnancy is particularly harmful to children's health, because this is a stage of rapid human growth and development
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Johnson said the findings support the use of wristbands as passive sampling and may help future studies assess the adverse health outcomes of prenatal PAH exposure
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Journal Reference :

1. Itza Mendoza-Sanchez, Inyang Uwak, Louise Myatt, Allison Van Cleve, Jairus C.

   
   Pulczinski, Kristal A.