The development of simple, rapid and cost effective test kits and their integration with smartphone technology for monitoring occupational and environmental exposure to the isocyanates – a group of common occupational chemicals and environmental pollutant

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Isocyanates are widespread chemicals with known adverse health effects. Isocyanates areemployed in commercial and consumer applications. The main effects of isocyanate exposureare occupational asthma and lung disease. Some isocyanates are carcinogenic.Studies in the construction industry show up to 57% of spray foam workers demonstrate theeffects of isocyanate exposure. Environmental exposure has been detected in residents livingclose to manufacturers employing isocyanates. Case studies associate families displayingsymptoms of isocyanate exposure with home insulation. Other studies have shown thepresence of isocyanates in medical devices and the exposure of neonatal infants toisocyanates. There is a need for simple, rapid and cost-effective tests for monitoring humanexposure.Exposure to isocyanates can be determined by the rapidly growing discipline of biomonitoring– the measurement of the chemical or a metabolite (biomarker) in the body (e.g. blood andurine) of an exposed individual. However, the best, currently available biomonitoringmethods, require a complicated work-up prior to analysis, are restricted to larger laboratorieswith sophisticated analytical equipment, need skilled technical operators, are not routinelyavailable, provide slow turnaround times and are expensive.Antibody technology allows the development of simple, rapid and cost-effectiveimmunoassays. The production of antibodies to isocyanate biomarkers will enable Biomark todevelop new isocyanate biomonitoring tests. Immunoassays provided in ELISA format willallow the laboratory analysis of large sample numbers and the provision of routine testservices. The development of point of care tests will enable on-site use and real timemonitoring. Integration with smartphone technology will allow data capture, data handlingand test support. Providing employers with immediate confirmation of good working practiceand on the job reassurance to those involved in hazardous tasks.