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Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Fast and Accurate Exhaled Breath Ammonia Measurement
Published on: June 11, 2014
Sensors for detecting pulmonary diseases from exhaled breath
1Dept of Chemical Engineering, Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, and the Technion Integrated Cancer Center, Haifa, Israel hhossam@technion.ac.il.
Abstract:
This review presents and discusses a new frontier for fast, risk-free and potentially inexpensive diagnostics of respiratory diseases by detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in exhaled breath. One part of the review is a didactic presentation of the overlaying concept and the chemistry of exhaled breath. The other part discusses diverse sensors that have been developed and used for the detection of respiratory diseases (e.g. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, lung cancer, pulmonary arterial hypertension, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome and pneumoconiosis) by analysis of VOCs in exhaled breath. The strengths and pitfalls are discussed and criticised, particularly in the perspective in disseminating information regarding these advances. Ideas regarding the improvement of sensors, sensor arrays, sensing devices and the further planning of workflow are also discussed.
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