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SWAN: Spectrometry-based Wearable Biosensing for Monitoring Plastic Particles in the Human Body
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Scientists developed a new wearable device that can detect tiny plastic particles under the skin using light technology, similar to how smartwatches monitor heart rate. The device successfully identified different types of plastics in lab tests and could potentially be added to existing fitness trackers or smartwatches. This matters because microplastics are increasingly found in our blood and organs, but current detection methods require invasive procedures that this wearable approach could replace.
Nano- and microplastics are increasingly detected in the human body, including the bloodstream and brain tissue. However, their detection remains challenging, often relying on invasive techniques and specialized equipment. We contribute SWAN, an innovative and low-cost spectrometry-based wearable system for detecting plastic traces beneath human tissue. We validate SWAN through extensive controlled experiments with skin phantoms and organic tissue, revealing distinct light signatures across plastic types (PET, PP, PS) and sizes, with significant changes in light intensity (up to 33% in the UV and visible light range) and stable detection across various skin tones. Additionally, we demonstrate that plastic sensing can occur without interfering with the extraction of physiological parameters, such as PPG, suggesting that our approach could enhance existing wearable technologies like smartwatches and smart rings.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.