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Advanced Low-Cost Sensing Technology for Exposure and Health Assessments
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Advanced Low-Cost Sensing Technology for Exposure and Health Assessments

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Wearables".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 August 2024) | Viewed by 6169

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Hamid Omidvarborna

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Global Centre for Clean Air Research (GCARE), School of Sustainability, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, Surrey, UK
Interests: low-cost sensors; wearable sensors; air quality; air pollution control; low-cost air pollution monitors; environmental monitoring and assessment; combustion chemistry; energy and environment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Due to advanced low-cost sensing technology, new smart sensors are being introduced every day. This technology provides an alternative way to monitor human exposure and health assessment in real time. For example, wearable sensors can measure individuals’ exposure to surrounding environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and noise, the level of air pollution (both indoor and outdoor), and biological signals, such as heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. These sensors can monitor individuals’ exposure levels to air pollution with high spatiotemporal resolution, which can substantially help end users to better understand their exposure levels during daily activities. Additionally, they can be utilized in advancing and personalizing human health research epidemiological studies and citizen science activities. Recently, this technology has been upgraded and embedded into many commercially available products, such as wristwatches, fitness bands, textile products, and face masks. In this Special Issue, we welcome studies that will help this technology become a part of our routine life. To do so, topics such as sensor design, development, fabrication, calibration, implementation, as well as data analysis and modeling, are welcome.

Dr. Hamid Omidvarborna
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • low-cost sensors
  • performance evaluation
  • internet of things
  • health monitoring
  • mobile health
  • exposure assessment
  • epidemiological studies

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 1913 KiB  
Article
First in-Lab Testing of a Cost-Effective Prototype for PM2.5 Monitoring: The P.ALP Assessment
by Giacomo Fanti, Francesca Borghi, Cody Wolfe, Davide Campagnolo, Justin Patts, Andrea Cattaneo, Andrea Spinazzè, Emanuele Cauda and Domenico Maria Cavallo
Sensors 2024, 24(18), 5915; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24185915 - 12 Sep 2024
Viewed by 418
Abstract
The goal of the present research was to assess, under controlled laboratory conditions, the accuracy and precision of a prototype device (named ‘P.ALP’: Ph.D. Air-quality Low-cost Project) developed for PM2.5 concentration level monitoring. Indeed, this study follows a complementary manuscript (previously published) [...] Read more.
The goal of the present research was to assess, under controlled laboratory conditions, the accuracy and precision of a prototype device (named ‘P.ALP’: Ph.D. Air-quality Low-cost Project) developed for PM2.5 concentration level monitoring. Indeed, this study follows a complementary manuscript (previously published) focusing on the in-field evaluation of the device’s performance. Four P.ALP prototypes were co-located with the reference instrument in a calm-air aerosol chamber at the NIOSH laboratories in Pittsburgh, PA (USA), used by the Center for Direct Reading and Sensor Technologies. The devices were tested for 10 monitoring days under several exposure conditions. To evaluate the performance of the prototypes, different approaches were employed. After the data from the devices were stored and prepared for analysis, to assess the accuracy (comparing the reference instrument with the prototypes) and the precision (comparing all the possible pairs of devices) of the P.ALPs, linear regression analysis was performed. Moreover, to find out the applicability field of this device, the US EPA’s suggested criteria were adopted, and to assess error trends of the prototype in the process of data acquisition, Bland–Altman plots were built. The findings show that, by introducing ad hoc calibration factors, the P.ALP’s performance needs to be further implemented, but the device can monitor the concentration trend variations with satisfying accuracy. Overall, the P.ALP can be involved in and adapted to a wide range of applications because of the inexpensive nature of the components, the small dimensions, and the high data storage capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Low-Cost Sensing Technology for Exposure and Health Assessments)
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11 pages, 2412 KiB  
Article
Continuous Temperature Telemonitoring of Patients with COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases Treated in Hospital-at-Home: Viture® System Validation
by Laura Sesma-Sánchez, María Ruiz-Castellano, Ainara Romero-Roldán, Laura Álvarez-García, Marta Morrás-Gómez, Idoia Tabar-Liberal, Marta Pulido-Fontes and Belén Salmón-García
Sensors 2024, 24(15), 5027; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24155027 - 3 Aug 2024
Viewed by 840
Abstract
Body temperature must be monitored in patients receiving Hospital-at-Home (HaH) care for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Continuous temperature telemonitoring (CTT) detects fever and patient deterioration early, facilitating decision-making. We performed a validation clinical study assessing the safety, comfort, and impact on healthcare [...] Read more.
Body temperature must be monitored in patients receiving Hospital-at-Home (HaH) care for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. Continuous temperature telemonitoring (CTT) detects fever and patient deterioration early, facilitating decision-making. We performed a validation clinical study assessing the safety, comfort, and impact on healthcare practice of Viture®, a CTT system, compared with a standard digital axillary thermometer in 208 patients with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases treated in HaH at the Navarra University Hospital (HUN). Overall, 3258 pairs of measurements showed a clinical bias of −0.02 °C with limits of agreement of −0.96/+0.92 °C, a 95% acceptance rate, and a mean absolute deviation of 0.36 (SD 0.30) °C. Viture® detected 3 times more febrile episodes and revealed fever in 50% more patients compared with spot measurements. Febrile episodes were detected 7.23 h (mean) earlier and modified the diagnostic and/or therapeutic approach in 43.2% of patients. Viture® was validated for use in a clinical setting and was more effective in detecting febrile episodes than conventional methods. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Low-Cost Sensing Technology for Exposure and Health Assessments)
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19 pages, 4191 KiB  
Article
Development of a Unified IoT Platform for Assessing Meteorological and Air Quality Data in a Tropical Environment
by David Kairuz-Cabrera, Victor Hernandez-Rodriguez, Olivier Schalm, Alain Martinez, Pedro Merino Laso and Daniellys Alejo-Sánchez
Sensors 2024, 24(9), 2729; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24092729 - 25 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1022
Abstract
In developing nations, outdated technologies and sulfur-rich heavy fossil fuel usage are major contributors to air pollution, affecting urban air quality and public health. In addition, the limited resources hinder the adoption of advanced monitoring systems crucial for informed public health policies. This [...] Read more.
In developing nations, outdated technologies and sulfur-rich heavy fossil fuel usage are major contributors to air pollution, affecting urban air quality and public health. In addition, the limited resources hinder the adoption of advanced monitoring systems crucial for informed public health policies. This study addresses this challenge by introducing an affordable internet of things (IoT) monitoring system capable of tracking atmospheric pollutants and meteorological parameters. The IoT platform combines a Bresser 5-in-1 weather station with a previously developed air quality monitoring device equipped with Alphasense gas sensors. Utilizing MQTT, Node-RED, InfluxDB, and Grafana, a Raspberry Pi collects, processes, and visualizes the data it receives from the measuring device by LoRa. To validate system performance, a 15-day field campaign was conducted in Santa Clara, Cuba, using a Libelium Smart Environment Pro as a reference. The system, with a development cost several times lower than Libelium and measuring a greater number of variables, provided reliable data to address air quality issues and support health-related decision making, overcoming resource and budget constraints. The results showed that the IoT architecture has the capacity to process measurements in tropical conditions. The meteorological data provide deeper insights into events of poorer air quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Low-Cost Sensing Technology for Exposure and Health Assessments)
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20 pages, 5650 KiB  
Article
A Low-Cost Wearable Device to Estimate Body Temperature Based on Wrist Temperature
by Marcela E. Mata-Romero, Omar A. Simental-Martínez, Héctor A. Guerrero-Osuna, Luis F. Luque-Vega, Emmanuel Lopez-Neri, Gerardo Ornelas-Vargas, Rodrigo Castañeda-Miranda, Ma. del Rosario Martínez-Blanco, Jesús Antonio Nava-Pintor and Fabián García-Vázquez
Sensors 2024, 24(6), 1944; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24061944 - 18 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2352
Abstract
The remote monitoring of vital signs and healthcare provision has become an urgent necessity due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world. Blood oxygen level, heart rate, and body temperature data are crucial for managing the disease and ensuring timely [...] Read more.
The remote monitoring of vital signs and healthcare provision has become an urgent necessity due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the world. Blood oxygen level, heart rate, and body temperature data are crucial for managing the disease and ensuring timely medical care. This study proposes a low-cost wearable device employing non-contact sensors to monitor, process, and visualize critical variables, focusing on body temperature measurement as a key health indicator. The wearable device developed offers a non-invasive and continuous method to gather wrist and forehead temperature data. However, since there is a discrepancy between wrist and actual forehead temperature, this study incorporates statistical methods and machine learning to estimate the core forehead temperature from the wrist. This research collects 2130 samples from 30 volunteers, and both the statistical least squares method and machine learning via linear regression are applied to analyze these data. It is observed that all models achieve a significant fit, but the third-degree polynomial model stands out in both approaches. It achieves an R2 value of 0.9769 in the statistical analysis and 0.9791 in machine learning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Low-Cost Sensing Technology for Exposure and Health Assessments)
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Review

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28 pages, 3667 KiB  
Review
Screen-Printed Electrodes as Low-Cost Sensors for Breast Cancer Biomarker Detection
by Yin Shen, Zhuang Sun, Shichao Zhao, Fei Chen, Peizheng Shi, Ningbin Zhao, Kaiqiang Sun, Chen Ye, Chengte Lin and Li Fu
Sensors 2024, 24(17), 5679; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24175679 - 31 Aug 2024
Viewed by 963
Abstract
This review explores the emerging role of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) in the detection of breast cancer biomarkers. We discuss the fundamental principles and fabrication techniques of SPEs, highlighting their adaptability and cost-effectiveness. The review examines various modification strategies, including nanomaterial incorporation, polymer coatings, [...] Read more.
This review explores the emerging role of screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) in the detection of breast cancer biomarkers. We discuss the fundamental principles and fabrication techniques of SPEs, highlighting their adaptability and cost-effectiveness. The review examines various modification strategies, including nanomaterial incorporation, polymer coatings, and biomolecule immobilization, which enhance sensor performance. We analyze the application of SPEs in detecting protein, genetic, and metabolite biomarkers associated with breast cancer, presenting recent advancements and innovative approaches. The integration of SPEs with microfluidic systems and their potential in wearable devices for continuous monitoring are explored. While emphasizing the promising aspects of SPE-based biosensors, we also address current challenges in sensitivity, specificity, and real-world applicability. The review concludes by discussing future perspectives, including the potential for early screening and therapy monitoring, and the steps required for clinical implementation. This comprehensive overview aims to stimulate further research and development in SPE-based biosensors for improved breast cancer management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Low-Cost Sensing Technology for Exposure and Health Assessments)
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