While many individuals flock to the beach at the slightest hint of warm weather, some may still be concerned about the pollutants found in the water that could result in individuals having to receive to rid their bodies of the unwanted metals and molecules they could ingest.
According to researchers from the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, there may be a quicker way for scientists to detect bacterial contamination in water, which could help them alert the general public if there is something in the water that they should be concerned with.
The current process takes at least 24 hours, but the researchers were concerned that this was not quick enough to properly warn swimmers as bacteria levels can change at a rapid pace.
The scientists have created a portable device that can offer fast results, a tool that theyre confident could be used by the masses.
“We envision a tool that can be used by lifeguards to collect and analyze water samples throughout the day, providing beachgoers with up-to-date, near-real-time data on water conditions,” researcher Christine Lee said.