Sanitary pads make it easier to detect contaminated water

Detecting water pollution becomes easier by using sanitary pads. This is a new study by two environmental engineers David Nicholas Lerner and Dave Mark Chandler at Sheffield University, England

Detecting water pollution by sanitary tape

Environmentalists now have a new weapon to detect sewage drains that contaminate the water : glowing sanitary napkins . Researchers will drop new sanitary pads into the river, then use UV light to check. If these tampons glow, like newly washed shirts lit up under UV light, this indicates that the river has been contaminated by organic bleach that is often used in toilet paper. , washing powder and shampoo. From there, it is possible to deduce that untreated wastewater is being poured directly into rivers.

According to a report published by the Journal of Water and Environment, University of Sheffield, environmental engineer David Nicholas Lerner and Dave Mark Chandler believe this approach is very effective. Lerner said that in the UK, more than 1 million families have installed wrong water systems, connected to plumbing used when flooding, which means that the waste water of families has been poured directly into the river. , instead of leading to processing plants. He also added: 'Unfortunately, discovering the source of this problem is very difficult, because the wastewater is constantly being poured out and is not always visible to the naked eye, further checking water sources are complex and expensive. '

Using a clean bench to present water pollution is a very unique idea

In contrast, sanitary tape testing is very beneficial. Lerner replied to NBC, saying: 'Sanitary pads are very cheap! Even the basic chemical analysis of a water sample is a tremendous undertaking. We do not need to examine details of other types of hazardous substances, only need to determine the level of pollution of the sewer. It is possible to use a fluorescent ruler to release organic bleaches, but it is quite expensive. We just need a UV lamp that costs 10 bucks and a light box.

This feminine hygiene product is an effective tool , because tampons are made from natural cotton, while most other absorbent cotton always contains bleach that researchers want to detect. In addition, sanitary pads are also easy to use.

After conducting laboratory preparations, researchers will release sanitary pads for 3 days at 16 flood pipes leading to rivers and streams in Sheffield. When they went to collect these tampons and scan under UV light, 9 glowed ones showed contact with bleaching agents.

Tampons will be soaked in areas suspected to be contaminated with water for 3 days.(NBC News photo)

With the help of the local Yorkshire Water facility, the study team recovered four of the nine suspected sewers. During the follow-up of the pipes, the researchers will drop a sanitary pad into each manhole, gradually narrowing the search area so that it can be examined more closely. Once, just through visual inspection they could confirm that the drainage lines were incorrectly connected.

Pollution of waste water is very harmful, altering river ecosystems and creating gray moss in the bottom of the river. If pollution becomes more serious, it will kill fish and invertebrate species in the water. But Lerner also said that when known about this problem, most families quickly repaired it. The next step in the project, the researchers will examine the water of the Bradford Beck River, the river that flows through the Bradford city of West Yorkshire. Lerner is currently working on a science project organized by Friends of Bradford's Becks in partnership with Sheffield University, local council, water company and environmental agencies.

He added: 'Initially, surveys must be conducted using sanitary napkins, in order to narrow the area where contamination occurs, then can find the source and control the situation. this. We will invite water companies to find out which households have installed the wrong water pipes. Basically, we have successfully tested the use of sanitary napkins and hope that water companies will apply this method. '