Researchers in Israel say they have created a real-time system capable of detecting intentional contamination of drinking water, United Press International reported yesterday (see GSN, May 28, 2008).
Abraham Katz, a physics professor at Tel Aviv University, said he and his team developed a fiber-optic system that can distinguish tainted water because it shows up as a different "color" in the infrared spectrum.
"It's unlikely that someone will poison the water supply in Afghanistan," Katz, said, "but America is in grave danger and needs to arm itself against chemical threats to its drinking water."
The team has detailed the results from initial field experiments, conducted in Europe, in a recent issue of the Journal of Applied Spectroscopy (United Press International, May 14).