The air in your home or office may look fine, but it can contain harmful compounds released by materials such as particleboard and carpet. New research suggests that tiny glowing worms could be used to quickly determine if that’s the case.
For this study, scientists at the University of Turku in Finland started with two millimeter-long transgenic lines. Caenorhabditis elegans Nematode.
What makes these roundworms special is the fact that when they smell or taste a toxic biological or synthetic compound, they react within 24 hours by producing green fluorescent protein (GFP).
The higher the levels of these compounds, the more proteins the worms produce and thus the more fluorescent they are. The intensity of fluorescence can be measured objectively by microscopy or spectroscopy.
These same types of environmentally sensitive nematodes were previously used to monitor concentrations of heavy metal contamination in outdoor environments. This latest study was reportedly the first to be tested for pollutants in indoor air.
Worms can be reliably killed when exposed to harmful substances such as black mold collected from moisture-damaged buildings, harsh chemicals used in cleaning agents, and volatile organic compounds produced by chemicals in degrading plastic carpets. was found to fluoresce. In addition to producing more GFP, the presence of such airborne material reduced worm activity and could even lead to death.
“Although nematodes cannot tell us what kinds of toxic compounds are in the air, they are an unbiased researcher on the health risks associated with indoor air and the need for more thorough technical investigation. You can provide your opinion.
A paper on the study, which also included scientists from Finland’s Aalto University and the University of Helsinki, was recently published in a journal. Pathogen.
Source: University of Turku
