Gloves that detect invisible toxins

• April 19, 2024

Every day and throughout their lives, people are exposed to an unimaginable amount of chemical substances, many of which can harm their health.

In order to avoid the development of diseases such as dermatitis, asthma or pneumoconiosis (related to the exposure of chemical agents), the Research Institute of Fraunhofer He developed gloves capable of detecting the presence of toxic elements in the air.

Through sensors that change color, gloves can identify the existence of gases such as carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulfate. In accordance with Sabine Trupp , leader of the investigation, these could help the discovery of leaks in factories or plantations before an accident happens.

The warning signal is triggered when a color indicator integrated into the glove reacts to the presence of analytes, in this case, chemicals.

The experts used a variety of techniques to fuse dyes with activated sensors in textiles. These are applied to the textile material by methods such as the immersion bath.

This invention will be presented in the Nuremberg Fair , and with this, it is expected that a new stage will begin in terms of security.