BIOSENSOR-BASED METHOD FOR THE DETECTION OF TOXINS AND WATER AND AIR QUALITY ANALYSIS SYSTEMS BASED THEREON

摘要

A water or air quality analysis system (10) and related method is biosensor-based for detecting toxins. The water or air to be analyzed includes a plurality of photosynthetic organisms therein, wherein toxins including chemical, biological or radiological agents alter a nominal photosynthetic activity of the photosynthetic organisms. A photodetector (12) is for measuring photosynthetic activity of the plurality of photosynthetic organisms. An electronics package (30) includes a processor coupled to the photodetector for analyzing the photosynthetic activity to indicate a presence of a toxin in the water or air. The analysis includes obtaining at a first time a measured photosynthetic activity curve for the photosynthetic organisms, and comparing the measured curve to a reference photosynthetic activity curve to determine differences therebetween. The presence of specific toxins, or precursors thereof, are then identified if present in the air or water using the differences.