Asthma vest

Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a sensor system that continuously monitors the air around persons prone to asthma attacks.

Worn in the pockets of a vest, the new system could help researchers understand the causes of asthma attacks.

‘We are investigating whether we can go back after an asthma attack and see what was going on environmentally when the attack started,’ said Charlene Bayer, a GTRI principal research scientist.

Although no one fully understands why certain people get asthma, doctors know that once a person has it, their lungs can overreact to environmental stimuli causing chest tightness or breathlessness, known as an asthma attack.

The new sensor system measures airborne exposure to formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, temperature, relative humidity and total volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are emitted as gases from products such as paints, cleaning supplies, pesticide formulations, building materials and furnishings, office equipment and craft materials.