Detecting hazardous concentrations of geogenic fluoride in drinking water: translating reagent-free sensorsfrom bench top to back pocket

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Low-cost, field detection of fluoride in drinking water will be a game changer for the over 200 million people in low-resource contexts who are exposed to unsafe levels of naturally occurring fluoride in the groundwater that they drink. While low levels of fluoride are beneficial to human health, levels in excess of 1.5 mg/L can have devastating effects on bone growth and other health outcomes. While fluoride contamination is clearly not the sole problem impacting the 10% of the global population lacking access to safe drinking water, its chronic effects are prevented by different interventions than typical water treatment schemes, and so separate identification of this problem is critical to adequately address SDG #6 of water and sanitation for all.We have developed a simple method for the detection of fluoride at relevant concentrations. Our sensor, based on an optical fibre, does not require mixing of reagents, and avoids the limitations of conventional methods, which do not work in chlorinated or cloudy water and often generate hazardous waste.The next step for our simple-to-use sensor is to miniaturize so that it works plugged into a cell phone, and to develop a device and interface appropriate for users who most need the technology. To be sure we are targeting the right market, we will work with consultants at BlueTech Research to perform a market analysis, determine the greatest need, and identify a path to market and strategy for protecting and disseminating the intellectual property so that this technology can be made available to improve lives in communities that most need it.