New Brunswick, N.J. (Jan. 27, 2020) – Robots can be programmed to perform tasks such as painting to generate exposure data on potentially harmful contaminants, according to a study in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology that was co-led by Rutgers University and ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences.
To study human exposure to chemicals, researchers at Rutgers and ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences had a robot paint drywall while measuring compounds released as paint dries, often observed as the “fresh-paint smell.”
The findings showed that the levels of volatile organic chemicals while the robot painted were consistent with more advanced model estimates for painting with water-based paint.
Going forward, robots would allow industrial hygienists, exposure scientists and other health science professionals to collect exposure data on compounds released from consumer products during painting, welding, cleaning and other human tasks.
The study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-019-0190-x
YouTube video (2017): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwztLRiAtfk
For interviews with the Rutgers researchers, contact Todd Bates at todd.bates@rutgers.edu
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Broadcast interviews: Rutgers University has broadcast-quality TV and radio studios available for remote live or taped interviews with Rutgers experts. For more information, contact Neal Buccino at neal.buccino@echo.rutgers.edu
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