SBIR-STTR Award

Phase 2 Real-Time Monitoring Of Trace Amounts Of Pesticides In Water And Food Usi
Award last edited on: 3/4/14

Sponsored Program
SBIR
Awarding Agency
NIH : NIEHS
Total Award Amount
$1,093,118
Award Phase
2
Solicitation Topic Code
-----

Principal Investigator
Anne M Schwartz

Company Information

Dahl Natural LLC

414 South Main Street Suite 100
Independence, OR 97531
   (509) 954-7532
   AnneS@dahlnatural.com
   www.dahlnatural.com
Location: Single
Congr. District: 04
County: Josephine

Phase I

Contract Number: 1R43ES018132-01
Start Date: 3/1/10    Completed: 8/31/10
Phase I year
2010
Phase I Amount
$100,000
Development of a Field Applicable Real-time Remote Monitoring Sensor Device Capable of Detecting multiple pesticides simultaneously in fluid or surface water. We propose to use carbon nanotube matrices as the active biosensor area for the effective immobilization of the pesticides through antibody based conjugation. Our initial work has demonstrated sensitivities in the nanogram/ml regime with very low cross reactivity in the detection of the 3 pesticides, Endosulfan sulfate, Edrin aldehyde, edrin ketone.. Principal Investigator: Shalini Prasad Ph. D, Arizona State Phase I (The Sensor): This work, will utilize an ultra sensitive electrochemical sensing platform based on aligned MWCNT for voltammetric analysis of pesticides. We will examine the capability and performance of the carbon nano-array based sensing unit and develop simultaneous and continuous detection of multiple pesticides. Phase One (The System): will develop automated delivery and clearance of fluid samples to the test sensor using a proprietary design for an electronic microfluidic pump mechanism and turbine run recharging unit coupled to pneumatic mechanisms. Application of the Project to Product Development and Commercialization: Statement of the problem. Our nation's water quality is at risk since we cannot afford the man power and time it takes to sample and analyze water using current methods. The risk pesticides pose has been grossly underestimated. A recent study, of the U.S. 2009 Geological survey done by NOAA Fisheries Service and Washington State University, indicates that the combined effect of multiple pesticides is far more dangerous to the health of wildlife and humans than was estimated by analyzing the results for the effect of each pesticide individually1. In fact when juvenile west coast salmon were exposed to only two pesticides at once they immediately died. These were common pesticides used in agriculture that were thought to be safe. This lack in capability of providing water comprehensive testing for the health of the public and aquatic environments is not limited to Oregon; it is a nation wide problem. Solution: A field applicable real-time remote monitoring device to detect pesticides in water would allow DEQ, EPA and NIEH researchers to get enough data on the relationship between environmental and industrial or agricultural factors and specific mechanisms that effect water quality, to effect change. Currently there is not enough data to develop comprehensive and effective plans for managing pesticides. Dahl Natural and Arizona State are partnering to develop feasibility of this technology so that it can be commercialized to provide a solution to this health and environmental threatening problem. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits. Unique to this solution is the ability of this device to be deployed in an aquatic environment for from one to two years without the need for servicing until the end of that time period. In addition the data can be remotely sent to many different data bases at once. Hence the commercial application and benefits to the NIEH and the public are many and include waste water monitoring and alarm systems, superfund site monitoring, timely individual wastewater discharge permits issued, establishment of a comprehensive data base for NIEH, DEQ, EPA and University researchers. The market for pesticide testing is over 1 Billion dollars a year. The low cost of the sensors and dramatic cost saving per test (from $200 to $600 a day per pesticide for one mean sample to over 50 mean samples per day for as little as $30.00) as well as increase access to internet /intranet accessible data. Key Words. Field Applicable Remote Monitoring of Pesticides in Water, Electrochemical Sensor, Self-assembled MWCNT, antibody based conjugation, Endosulfan sulfate, Edrin aldehyde, edrin ketone Summary for Members of Congress. The NIEH has funded a ground breaking research effort which could dramatically improve our nation's ability to detect threats to drinking water, lakes, rivers and ocean aquatic environments. This new technology will be able to remotely monitor toxic pesticides for 1-2 years at a time.

Public Health Relevance:
The goal of this project is to integrate Dahl Natural's sampling system and wireless communication with the expertise of Dr. Shalini Prasad in nanotechnology based sensors using surface functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube arrays (mats); and, to develop a practical, robust and cost-effective sensing system for routine monitoring of pesticides in surface waters.

Thesaurus Terms:
1-Naphthalenol, Methylcarbamate; 1-Naphthyl-N-Methylcarbamate; 6,9-Methano-2,4,3-Benzodioxathiepin, 6,7,8,9,10,10-Hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-Hexahydro-, 3-Oxide; Absorption; Acetylcholine Hydrolase; Acetylcholinesterase; Acute; Acylcholine Acylhydrolase; Acylcholineacylhydrolase; Address; Adolescent; Adolescent Youth; Affinity; Agriculture; Air; Al Element; Aldehydes; Aluminum; Amines; Animals; Antibodies; Area; Arizona; Automobile Driving; Aves; Avian; Back; Bacteria; Binding; Binding (Molecular Function); Biochemistry; Biological; Biosensor; Birds; Birth Defects; Bone Formation; Brain; Buckytubes; Budgets; Butanedioic Acid, ((Dimethoxyphosphinothioyl)Thio)-, Diethyl Ester; C Element; Caliber; Cancer Causing Agents; Carbaril; Carbaryl; Carbon; Carbon Nanotubes; Carcinogens; Cell Communication And Signaling; Cell Signaling; Cells; Central Nervous System; Cereals; Cessation Of Life; Chemistry; Chemistry, Biological; Chlorinated Hydrocarbons; Chlorpyrifos; Cholinesterases; Chronic; Common Rat Strains; Communication; Complex; Computer Systems; Conflict; Conflict (Psychology); Congenital Abnormality; Congenital Anatomic Abnormality; Congenital Anatomical Abnormality; Congenital Defects; Congenital Deformity; Congenital Malformation; Congresses; Country; Coupled; Culicidae; Dwnt; Data; Data Banks; Data Bases; Databank, Electronic; Databanks; Database, Electronic; Databases; Death; Deposit; Deposition; Detection; Development; Devices; Diagnosis, Ultrasound; Diameter; Diazinon; Dimpylate; Disputes; Dorsum; Drivings, Automobile; Dust; Echography; Echotomography; Economics; Electrical Impedance; Electrodes; Electrodes, Miniaturized; Electronics; Encephalon; Encephalons; Endosulfan; Engineering; Engineerings; Environment; Environmental Health; Environmental Health Science; Enzymes; Equipment; Equipment Contamination; Exposure To; Fisheries; Fishes; Food; Funding; Goals; Government; Grain; Grant; Health; Human; Human Figure; Human Resources; Human Body; Human, General; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; Hydrogen Oxide; Immobilization; Impedance; Individual; Ingestion; Ink; Inorganic Sulfates; Insect Control; Insecta; Insecticides; Insects; Intermediary Metabolism; Internet; Intracellular Communication And Signaling; Intranet; Invertebrates, Insects; Investigators; Isomerism; Karbofos; Ketones; Killings; Knowledge; Length; Light; Liquid Substance; Location; Metbl; Malathion; Mammals, Mice; Mammals, Rats; Mammals, Rodents; Man (Taxonomy); Man, Modern; Manpower; Marketing; Measurement; Measures; Mechanics; Medical Imaging, Ultrasound; Memory; Metabolic Processes; Metabolism; Methods; Methods And Techniques; Methods, Other; Mice; Microelectrodes; Microfluidic; Microfluidics; Minerals; Mites; Modeling; Molecular Genetic Abnormality; Molecular Interaction; Monitor; Mosquitoes; Movement; Murine; Mus; Nrvs-Sys; Nanoarray Analytical Device; Nanoscale Science; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes, Carbon; Nerve; Nerve Cells; Nerve Unit; Nervous; Nervous System; Nervous System, Brain; Nervous System, Cns; Nervous System Structure; Neural Cell; Neuraxis; Neurocyte; Neurologic Body System; Neurologic Organ System; Neurons; Noise; Oceans; Oncogens; Oregon; Organochlorine Compounds; Organochlorines; Organophosphates; Osteogenesis; Parasympathomimetic Agents; Parasympathomimetic Drugs; Parasympathomimetics; Performance; Pest Control; Pesticides; Phase; Phosphorothioic Acid, O,O-Diethyl O-(3,5,6-Trichloro-2-Pyridinyl) Ester; Phosphorothioic Acid, O,O-Diethyl O-(6-Methyl-2-(1-Methylethyl)-4-Pyrimidinyl) Ester; Photoradiation; Plants; Plants, General; Plastics; Poisons; Pressure; Pressure- Physical Agent; Price; Principal Investigator; Printing; Process Of Absorption; Programs (Pt); Programs [publication Type]; Public Health; Pump; Rat; Rattus; Real-Time Systems; Records; Recreation; Research; Research Personnel; Researchers; Resistance; Risk; Rivers; Rodent; Rodentia; Rodentias; Running; Subgp; Salmon; Sampling; Science Of Chemistry; Sensitivity And Specificity; Services; Severities; Signal Transduction; Signal Transduction Systems; Signaling; Soil; Solid; Solutions; Source; Specific Qualifier Value; Specified; Spectroscopy; Spectrum Analyses; Spectrum Analysis; Stealing; Stealings; Subgroup; Sulfates; Sulfates, Inorganic; Sulfates, Unspecified Or Sulfate Ion; Surface; Survey Instrument; Surveys; Symptoms; System; System, Loinc Axis 4; Systems Integration; Tea; Techniques; Technology; Testing; Theft; Thiodan; Thiodon; Time; Toxic Chemical; Toxic Substance; Toxic Effect; Toxicities; Training; Translating; Translatings; Travel; Tube; Ultrasonic Imaging; Ultrasonogram; Ultrasonography; Ultrasound Test; Ultrasound, Medical; Universities; Unspecified Or Sulfate Ion Sulfates; Www; Washington; Water; Wireless Technology; Wood; Wood Material; Work; Yeasts; Absorption; Acetylcholine Acetylhydrolase; Agricultural; Base; Biological Signal Transduction; Body Movement; Carcinogenicity; Chemical Bond; Chlorohydrocarbon; Choline Esterase I; Choline Esterase Ii; Clinical Data Repository; Clinical Data Warehouse; Commercial Application; Commercialization; Cost; Cost Effective; Cross Reactivity; Data Repository; Design; Designing; Diagnostic Ultrasound; Drinking Water; Driving; Electric Impedance; Fluid; Fruits And Vegetables; Immobilization Of Body Part; Improved; Innovate; Innovation; Innovative; Isomer; Juvenile; Juvenile Human; Language Translation; Liquid; Malaoxon; Man; Man's; Member; Milligram; Monitoring Device; Multi Walled Carbon Nano Tube; Multi Walled Carbon Nanotube; Nano Array; Nano Array Analytical Device; Nano Fluidic; Nano Materials; Nano Meter Scale; Nano Meter Sized; Nano Scale; Nano Scale Science; Nano Sensing; Nano Sensors; Nano Tech; Nano Technology; Nano Tubes, Carbon; Nanoarray; Nanofluidic; Nanomaterials; Nanometer Scale; Nanometer Sized; Nanoscale; Nanosensing; Nanosensors; Nanotech; Neuronal; New Technology; Orthopedic Freezing; Particle; Personnel; Pesticide Interaction; Poison; Pressure; Prevent; Preventing; Pricing; Product Development; Programs; Prototype; Public Health Medicine (Field); Public Health Relevance; Relational Database; Resistant; Sample Collection; Sensor; Sensor (Biological); Sonogram; Sonography; Sound Measurement; Specimen Collection; Spinal Cord And Brain Injury; Sulfate; Superfund Site; Toxic Compound; Ultrasound; Ultrasound Imaging; Ultrasound Scanning; Wasting; Water Quality; Water Sampling; Web; Wireless; World Wide Web

Phase II

Contract Number: 2R44ES018132-02
Start Date: 3/1/10    Completed: 6/30/14
Phase II year
2012
(last award dollars: 2013)
Phase II Amount
$993,118

Development of a phase 2 beta for demonstration in Tree Top juice processing plant of a Field Applicable Real-time Remote Monitoring Sensor Device capable of detecting multiple pesticides simultaneously in unfiltered juice, fluid or waste water. We propose to further develop the carbon nanotube matrices active biosensor area for effective immobilization of multiple pesticides, as well as preservation and manufacturing specifications of the sensors. Our phase 1 work resulted in a prototype for an automated real time system and has demonstrated sensitivities from 1ppt to 10ppm with very low cross reactivity in the detection of Atrazine, Chloropyrifos, and Malathion. Principal Investigator: Anne Schwartz CEO DN, Subcontract PI's: Dr. Jeff Jenkins OSU. Assisting: Dr. Craig Marcus, Dr. Guenter Schneider and Dr. Ethan Minot OSU. Phase 2 (The Sensor): This work, will utilize an ultra sensitive electrochemical sensing platform based on aligned MWCNT for voltammetric analysis of pesticides. We will examine the capability and performance of the carbon nano-array based sensing unit and develop simultaneous and continuous detection of multiple pesticides. Part of this work will be preservation and shelf life testing of the sensor and optimization for automated use in waste water and food processing plants. We will use computational physics to predict adhesion strength of nanomaterial binding for system optimization. Phase 2 (The System): Further development of electronic hardware to fabricate a 80 sensor multiplexed disposable array, automated delivery and clearance of fluid samples to the test sensor using a proprietary design for an electronic microfluidic pump mechanism and wireless data transmission for alerts to process controls of food processing lines and waste water systems. Application of the Project to Product Development and Commercialization: Statement of the problem;our nation's food and water quality is at risk since we cannot afford the man power and time it takes to sample and analyze water using current methods. The risk pesticides pose has been grossly underestimated. A recent study, of the U.S. 2009 Geological survey done by NOAA Fisheries Service and Washington State University, indicates that the combined effect of multiple pesticides is far more dangerous to the health than was estimated by analyzing the results for the effect of each pesticide individually(1). In fact when juvenile salmon were exposed to only two pesticides at once they immediately died. These were common pesticides that were thought to be safe. These pesticides are linked to ADHD in children (2).This lack in capability of providing comprehensive pesticide testing for the health of the public is not limited to Oregon;it is a national problem. Solution: A field applicable real-time remote monitoring device to detect pesticides in water and food would allow Food Processors, DEQ, EPA, and NIEH researchers to get enough data on the relationship between environmental and industrial or agricultural factors and specific mechanisms that effect water and food quality, to effect change. Currently there is not enough data to develop comprehensive and effective plans for managing pesticides. Also real-time, sensitive to ppt, measurement is needed for food processors to adjust processes in time to lower the amount of pesticides in food. Dahl Natural, ASU and OSU are partnering to demonstrate feasibility of this technology so that it can be commercialized to provide a solution to this health and environmental threatening problem. Commercial Applications and Other

Benefits:
Unique to this solution is the ability of this device to be deployed in an aquatic environment for from one to two years without the need for servicing until the end of that time period. In addition the data can be remotely sent too many different data bases at once. Hence the commercial application and benefits to the NIEH and the public are many and include food processing, waste water monitoring and alarm systems, superfund site monitoring, timely individual wastewater discharge permits issued, establishment of a comprehensive data base for NIEH, DEQ, EPA and University researchers. The market for pesticide testing is over 1 Billion dollars a year. The low cost of the sensors and dramatic cost saving per test (from $200 to $600 a day per pesticide for one mean sample to over 50 mean samples per day for as little as $30.00) as well as increase access to internet /intranet accessible data. Key Words: Remote Monitoring of Pesticides in Water, Electrochemical Sensor, Self-assembled MWCNT, and antibody based conjugation, Malathion, Chloropyrifos, Atrazine. Summary for Members of Congress: The NIEH has funded a ground breaking research effort which could dramatically improve our nation's ability to detect threats to food, drinking water, lakes, rivers and ocean aquatic environments. This new technology will be able to remotely monitor toxic pesticides for 1-2 years at a time.

Public Health Relevance:
This Phase 2 project to demonstrate a real-time automated device to measure pesticides from 1ppt to 10ppm in a juice processors'plant would dramatically impact the health of the public especially the health of children by reducing exposure through food and water.