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http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/2014/mar/chemical-testing-bracelets

This article by Brian Bienkowski in the Environmental Health News talks about how researchers at Oregon State University are using silicone bracelets to test for chemical exposure. The bracelets are already popular among many and span use across all generations and groups of people who wear the bracelets to promote charities and various affiliations.

Silicone is porous and similar to human cells, so chemicals are easily absorbed and retained by the wristband. Chemists can then measure the concentrations of chemicals on the silicone which is a cheap and easy way to monitor which chemicals its wearer is being exposed to. This makes the wristbands an effective way of monitoring exposure.

As the fad continues, researchers can use the wristbands to determine where and how people are exposed to various chemicals. Perhaps they can use this information to make the environment safer, keeping vulnerable people away from known contaminants which may cause health problems.