# A badge-like exposure device for occupational safety and epidemiological study

> **NIH NIH R44** · TF HEALTH CORPORATION · 2020 · $598,587

## Abstract

Abstract
Chemical exposure poses a threat to the safety and health of each of us, especially those who work in certain
industries, such as petroleum extraction and refinery facilities, mining industry, and fertilizer factories. Various
sensing technologies have been developed over the past decades to address the need, but a low cost and
accurate personal exposure device that can track multiple chemical pollutants in real-time is not yet
commercially available. This fast track project will develop, test, and validate a badge-like chemical exposure
monitor using a Flow-Colorimetric Sensing (FCS) technology to detect multiple chemicals continuously and
simultaneously. Phase 1 of the project will focus on developing the FCS platform that combines the strengths
of colorimetry and microfluidics, and validate its performance for monitoring three key chemicals (NO2, O3, and
HCHO). Phase 2 will expand the chemicals to six most common chemical pollutants in the workplaces (NO2,
O3, HCHO, CO, SO2, and NH3), develop a badge-like personal exposure device, and validate it for
occupational safety and for environmental exposure related disease studies. The FCS platform is expandable
and configurable, which can thus include additional chemicals, or be configured to cover chemicals selected for
a particular need. The proposed badge-like device has following key features: 1) calibration-free and
multiplexed detection of multiple chemicals, 2) unobtrusive user-experience, 3) expandable and flexible to
cover different chemicals based on the need, and 4) low cost (~$100 for device). TF Health Co. has a track
record in developing and commercializing chemical sensors for environmental and health applications, and its
collaborator in the Biodesign Center for Bioelectronics and Biosensors at ASU has all the necessary expertise
and facilities to develop, characterize, and test chemical sensors. The team has worked together to
successfully carry out several projects, and is ready to overcome technical challenges and develop the first
wearable multi-analyte device in this fast track project. The proposed device, if successfully developed and
validated, will have a great potential to contribute to occupational safety and environmental health research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9983743
- **Project number:** 5R44ES029006-03
- **Recipient organization:** TF HEALTH CORPORATION
- **Principal Investigator:** Francis Tsow
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $598,587
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9983743

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9983743, A badge-like exposure device for occupational safety and epidemiological study (5R44ES029006-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9983743. Licensed CC0.

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