(210f) Electrochemical Detection of Environmental Pollutants

Many small molecule pollutants interact with human hormonal systems. These compounds, known as endocrine disruptors, are ubiquitous, as they are found in plastics, medications, and pesticides. Such chemicals are especially problematic because they have been linked to severe health problems, including cancer, infertility, and diabetes. We have developed two complementary electrochemical methods to rapidly detect and quantify these compounds. One technique involves the specific monitoring of Bisphenol A (BPA) using a DNA aptamer immobilized on an electrode. The second method involves the measurement of the biological activity of chemically dissimilar endocrine disruptors using a human hormone receptor as a component of an electrochemical sandwich assay. These electrochemical platforms require no specialized skills to implement and have enabled very sensitive detection (sub-ppb levels) of these environmental pollutants from complex solutions, such as baby formula.