£EPA

United States
Environmental Protection
Agency

Shelf Stable Arsenic Detection Kit

Inventors: Tao Li, Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie
US Patent Application 16/793,455
TRL 3

Context

Arsenic is a carcinogen and general toxin. Arsenic pollution has been a global threat to human health and
sustainable economic development for hundreds of years. Since the 19th century, millions of tons of arsenic
have been generated through industrial activities such as mining, manufacturing, and fossil fuel use. These
activities left sites with anthropogenic arsenic contamination throughout the world. Arsenic pollution poses a
great environmental risk as ingestion of arsenic-contaminated groundwater can lead to serious poisoning
incidents. In the U.S., mining areas with arsenic pollution issues have been designated as Superfund sites.

Summary

EPA researchers have invented a novel way to detect arsenic and other troubling pollutants found in many
Superfund sites, landfills, and other polluted locations. The "Shelf Stable Arsenic Detection Kit," invented by
Tao Li and Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, detects arsenic pollutants as well as additional water contaminants,
such as PFAS, mercury, and carbamate pesticides through electrochemical biosensors. This invention is easy-
to-use, shelf stable, disposable, and highly portable for measuring pollutant concentrations in a wide variety of
sites. This detection technology will be instrumental in monitoring and eliminating contaminants from polluted
water sites as well as preventing the spread of contamination to water supplies.

Potential Applications

•	Site Remediation

•	Emergency Management

•	Water Purification

Contact

Meghan Sheehan, JD, CLP
Federal Technology Transfer Act (FTTA) Specialist
www.epa.gov/ftta

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Office of Research and Development

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