The topic of asbestos was chosen due to its relevance in our schools. In the Philadelphia School District 80% of Philadelphia schools were built prior to 1978 before regulations were put in place. Our project seeks to find a more effective way to detect asbestos fibers.

Asbestos is a common fibrous silicate mineral and carcinogen that is commonly found in cement and other structural components in buildings (often found in buildings prior to 1980s) due to its heat resistant qualities. Chrysotile (also known as white asbestos) is the most commonly used form of asbestos, making up 95% of the asbestos in the United States. This form of asbestos is a hydrous magnesium silicate [Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4].

ABOUT THE DESIGN

In order to test for asbestos, kits are purchased from online sites only for them to be sent back to a lab. Because such a process is inefficient, we decided to design an experiment in which an enzyme would be used to detect asbestos within minutes.