Science that Takes Your Breath Away

The breath you "see" on a cold winter's day may become a useful diagnostic tool for identifying lung changes or damage from air pollutants. EPA scientists are at the forefront of new biomarker research to determine if exhaled breath can be used to detect changes in the body at the molecular or cellular level.

Over the last 20 years, researchers have used a medical procedure called bronchoscopy that involves taking lung cells with a scope to study the effects of air pollutants on the lungs. The procedure must be done in a clinic under medical supervision. In contrast, EPA scientists expect the breath-borne biomarkers to be usable in more situations outside the clinic, cost less to administer, and provide much more comfort to the volunteer.