Virtual Booth

Heavy metal pollution in water sources is a critical environmental and public health issue, especially in areas near mining, agriculture, or industrial zones. Over 1.5 million deaths in 2021 (WHO) were linked to lead exposure, largely from contaminated water. Heavy metals like lead, copper and arsenic are toxic even at low concentrations and can accumulate in human organs, causing irreversible damage over time. Despite these issues, current detection methods such as spectrophotometry are inaccessible to the public. They are costly, require skilled personnel, and are limited to laboratories. This creates a critical data gap — many contaminated water bodies remain unmonitored until after damage is done. Communities, especially in rural or underserved regions, lack tools to detect and respond to contamination. There is a clear need for an affordable, portable, and user-friendly solution to monitor water quality in real time. Heavy metal pollution in water is a major health and environmental problem, especially near mining, farms, or factories. In 2021, over 1.5 million deaths were linked to lead poisoning (WHO), often from dirty water. Metals like lead, copper, and arsenic are dangerous even in small amounts. They build up in the body and cause lasting harm. Current testing methods like spectrophotometry are too expensive, hard to use, and only found in labs. This leaves many water sources unchecked until it’s too late. Communities, especially in rural or poor areas have no way to test their water. There is a clear need for a method that is cheap, portable, and user-friendly, something that helps anyone check water safety in real time.