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Researchers at Umeå University and the Swedish Defense Research Agency, FOI, have developed new laser methods that can quickly detect chemical weapons and harmful bacteria directly on site—without the need to send samples to a laboratory.

Hazardous chemicals can appear in many forms. They can be pollutants in waterways, pesticides in our food, or synthetic substances designed to cause harm—such as narcotics or chemical weapons. To reduce the risk of these substances entering our bodies, it is crucial to be able to detect them quickly and reliably.

A new from Umeå University shows how laser light can be used to do just that.

"All hazardous chemicals consist of molecules with specific structures and properties that make them dangerous. When these chemicals interact with light, for example from a laser, they emit a 'fingerprint'—a light signal that is unique to that particular chemical," says Rasmus Öberg, doctoral student at the Department of Â鶹ÒùÔºics and the Industrial Doctoral School at UmeÃ¥ University.

Using these fingerprints, Öberg has developed measurement methods capable of detecting very small amounts of chemicals. The methods can be applied, for example, in conflict zones or environmental monitoring to provide an early indication of danger, which can later be confirmed through more in-depth and time-consuming laboratory analyses.

"Traditional methods for detecting hazardous chemicals have often been quite impractical to use outside the lab. With portable instruments and surfaces that amplify the light signals from the chemicals, we can take these methods into real-world environments. The collaboration with FOI, which has extensive experience in handling dangerous substances, has been invaluable in this work," he says.

The thesis also shows that similar methods can be used to detect harmful bacteria and bacterial spores. This is particularly valuable in areas such as the food industry, and hospitals where multi-resistant bacteria are a major problem.

"Biological substances are often more complex to detect, but by isolating characteristic chemicals from these bacteria and bacterial spores, we can identify even relatively small quantities. This is an exciting complement to established biological detection methods such as bacterial culture and PCR," says Öberg.

The researchers now hope that the technology can be further developed and applied in more contexts where quick and reliable analysis is crucial. In the long term, the methods could help strengthen preparedness and safety in areas such as environmental protection, defense and public health.