Prateek developed a new test to identify the presence of mercury in water, which can irreversibly harm brain function. The chemical test that he created emits light when the water is safe and no light when mercury, a lethal toxin, is present. Importantly, he showed that this tool is sensitive to very low levels of mercury and responds to the presence of mercury but not similar contaminants, such as lead. He is developing this work into a simple and inexpensive test, similar to a pregnancy test, so that it may be used in communities in developing countries.
Mercury poisoning damages the cerebellum, the region of the brain that controls movement, as well as the kidney and other organs. The dangers of mercury poisoning are highest in developing countries with artisanal small-scale gold mining, which is the largest source of mercury pollution in the world other than from burning fossil fuels. However, most tools to test for the presence of this metal in water are expensive and unwieldy in these settings.
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