By Etop Ekanem

Seasoned Nigerian researcher and expert in health physics, with research spanning environmental health and toxicology, Kolawole Adesina, has pioneered a groundbreaking innovation to measure inhaled metals in the airway, revolutionizing the field of exposure science and public health monitoring.

He disclosed this in a media statement recently, stating the innovation utilizes a simple nasal exposure-sampling strip analyzed with benchtop energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF).

The research, conducted under the mentorship of Dr. Aaron J. Specht at Purdue University, demonstrates the feasibility of using nasosorption to measure trace levels of metals and metalloids in the upper airway. 

By combining this simple collection method with advanced XRF technology, Adesina and his team have developed an affordable, efficient, and scalable approach to assessing respiratory metal exposure.

According to Adesina, “This work is not just about advancing science; it’s about making environmental monitoring more accessible, affordable, and impactful for communities worldwide.”

The implications of this study extend far beyond laboratory validation. 

Traditionally, assessing inhaled metal exposure required collecting blood, urine, or lung biopsies—methods that are either invasive, costly, or do not directly measure metals deposited in the respiratory tract. 

This new approach revolutionizes biomonitoring by offering a rapid, non-invasive, and cost-effective alternative that could be deployed in diverse populations.

For this work, Adesina was awarded the Toxicologists of African Origin (TAO) Endowment Fund Student Travel Award and the Inhalation and Respiratory Specialty Section (IRSS) emka-SCIREQ Special Award from the Society of Toxicology (SOT). 

These recognitions highlight the growing significance of his research in advancing global exposure science and public health monitoring.

The technique could be a game-changer for assessing metal exposure in high-risk populations in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos, where industrial emissions and urban pollution pose significant health risks. 

Health workers could distribute the nasal strips to individuals in high-risk areas, collect samples non-invasively, and analyze them using benchtop XRF system to provide real-time exposure assessments.

Such data could drive informed decision-making, enabling targeted interventions to protect the health of at-risk populations in Lagos and beyond. 

As Nigeria continues to confront growing environmental health concerns, integrating such novel techniques into national monitoring programs could transform the country’s approach to pollution control and public health protection. 

With continued research and collaboration, this pioneering method holds the promise of reshaping how metal exposure is monitored, not just in Nigeria but globally, ensuring that vulnerable populations receive the attention and protection they deserve.

Adesina is a PhD student in Health Physics at Purdue University. His research is part of a larger collaborative effort, involving scientists from Purdue University, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.