Team:Oxford/P&P realisationandsafety

From 2014.igem.org

(Difference between revisions)
Line 38: Line 38:
<h1blue2>Cost</h1blue2>
<h1blue2>Cost</h1blue2>
<br><br>
<br><br>
-
Why it's beneficial to have a cheap system, makes solution available to poorer countries, esp important in relation to chlorinated solvents as have much weaker regulation so risk of contamination/unsafe levels is higher.
+
One of the points raised by the Environment Agency was the huge cost of simply testing for chlorinated solvent pollution, before even beginning to deal with any which is found. <br>
 +
<img src="https://static.igem.org/mediawiki/2014/c/ce/EA_Biosensor_Cost_Quote.jpg" style="float:left;position:relative; width:100%;" />
 +
The current method requires using a national network of thousands of boreholes, which are regularly sampled for numerous contaminants, including DCM and other chlorinated solvents. Initial tests give an indication of the presence of contaminants, and further tests are conducted if necessary. Tests include HPLC and mass spectroscopy. These techniques are highly expensive, costing the government hundreds of pounds per sample. <br><br>
 +
Here in the UK we are extremely fortunate to have an Agency which performs these tasks, at great expense, to protect us and our environment from chlorinated solvent waste. However, there are many places in the world where testing and decontamination procedures are far less rigorous.
<br><br>
<br><br>
</div>
</div>

Revision as of 08:20, 14 October 2014


Practicality



Realisation Our engineers have used CAD CAM and 3D printing to produce a prototype model of how our environmental solution could be devlivered in a practical, cheap, and user friendly way.
For more info, check out our realization page [here].

Cost

One of the points raised by the Environment Agency was the huge cost of simply testing for chlorinated solvent pollution, before even beginning to deal with any which is found.
The current method requires using a national network of thousands of boreholes, which are regularly sampled for numerous contaminants, including DCM and other chlorinated solvents. Initial tests give an indication of the presence of contaminants, and further tests are conducted if necessary. Tests include HPLC and mass spectroscopy. These techniques are highly expensive, costing the government hundreds of pounds per sample.

Here in the UK we are extremely fortunate to have an Agency which performs these tasks, at great expense, to protect us and our environment from chlorinated solvent waste. However, there are many places in the world where testing and decontamination procedures are far less rigorous.

Safety

Link to safety page, mention public concerns about safety.
Also show awareness of safety legislation, e.g. what standards we would have to meet to actually be able to market the product.
References

References here...