Algae test could prevent infant blood disorder

STUDENTS who developed a simple home test kit that measures nitrate levels in drinking water believe it could be used to avoid a potentially fatal blood disorder in infants known “blue baby” syndrome.

The students, finalists in the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition at the RDS, Dublin, used an algae to create a home test that people can use to analyse their drinking water. Colour changes in the test indicate nitrate levels.

Mark Brennan, 15, and Mark Grennan, 16, fifth year students at Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass, Co Wicklow, found that nitrate levels varied considerably even across a small area.