S. Vishnu Sharma
IIT Jodhpur researchers developed a tool for detecting arsenic contamination in water resources.
This is said to be a significant step towards ensuring safe and accessible drinking water. The tool is said to be low cost and portable, say sources from IIT Jodhpur.
IIT Jodhpur research team
Dr Mahesh Kumar of Department of Electrical Engineering and his team at IIT Jodhpur have developed the tool.
IIT Jodhpur breakthrough
The breakthrough achieved by researchers at IITJ team is said to address one of the most critical global environmental and health challenges—arsenic toxicity in groundwater, which is known to cause life-threatening diseases even at trace levels.
Publishing
Published in IOP Publishing’s journal Nanotechnology (https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6528/adcc37), this new tool enables real-time monitoring of water quality, particularly in remote and low-income regions.
Designed for usability and accessibility, the device does not require complex laboratory infrastructure or skilled personnel and can be operated directly in the field.
Arsenic contamination
Arsenic contamination, prevalent in various parts of India and globally, is known to cause severe health effects including skin lesions, cancer, and cardiovascular issues—even at very low exposure levels.
An estimated 43,000 deaths annually are linked to chronic arsenic poisoning.
Traditional arsenic detection techniques
Traditional detection techniques such as spectroscopy and electrochemical sensing are often cost-prohibitive and rely heavily on sophisticated lab setups, making them impractical for wide-scale deployment.
In contrast, the sensor developed at IIT Jodhpur can detect arsenic concentrations as low as 0.90 parts per billion (ppb) with an impressive response time of just 3.2 seconds.
Aim
Dr Mahesh Kumar said their aim was to create a solution that bridges scientific precision and grassroots usability.
By integrating the sensor with a circuit board and an Arduino module, we’ve built a compact and portable tool for real-time detection, he said.
We envision this innovation helping communities gain access to safe water and preventing life-threatening conditions arising from arsenic exposure, he said.
Game changer
This innovation is expected to serve as a game-changer in water quality assessment, offering scalability and affordability in public health monitoring programs.
IIT Jodhpur faculty
Faculty members from Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering at IIT Jodhpur have won Indian National Science Academy (INSA) award for 2025.
Prof Amit Mishra
Prof. Amit Mishra has been elected as a recipient of the INSA Associate Fellowship (IAF) in recognition of his outstanding research contributions to understanding neuronal protein quality control mechanisms in neurodegenerative diseases.
His work has elucidated the critical role of selective and multifaceted E3 ubiquitin ligases in defending against the accumulation of misfolded proteins.
These findings not only offer a deeper insight into neurobiological defence mechanisms but also pave the way for identifying novel therapeutic targets for treating neurodegeneration and age-associated disorders.
Dr Sucharita Dey
Dr. Sucharita Dey, Assistant Professor in the same department, has been selected as a recipient of the INSA Young Associateship (IYA) for the year 2025.
Dr. Dey has developed a scalable AI/ML-based strategy for the proteome-wide prediction of homo-obligomeric protein complexes, leading to the identification of hundreds of novel assemblies, including experimentally validated megadalton structures.
Her innovative approach bridges computational biology and molecular science, significantly advancing the understanding of protein assembly and function.
Congratulations
The Director, faculty, staff, and students of IIT Jodhpur congratulated Prof. Mishra and Dr. Dey on this prestigious national recognition and celebrate their contribution to cutting-edge bioscience research.
Their achievements further strengthen IIT Jodhpur’s vision of fostering interdisciplinary research that addresses grand scientific challenges with global impact.
About IIT Jodhpur
Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur is one of India’s premier institutes of technology, known for fostering excellence in education, research, and innovation.
With cutting-edge programs in engineering, science, design, and management, the institute promotes interdisciplinary learning and industry collaboration.
IIT Jodhpur’s eco-conscious campus houses advanced laboratories, incubation centers, and a vibrant student community.
The institute is actively contributing to national missions through pioneering research in areas such as artificial intelligence, healthcare, clean energy, and smart infrastructure.
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