Tampons Used to Detect Sewer Leaks

In science, the tools of the trade sometimes aren’t very glamorous. Take the recent work done by a professor and graduate student at Sheffield University in the United Kingdom. Professor David Lerner and student Dave Chandler are using tampons to help monitor wastewater pollution in waterways.Chandler realized that the material in tampons absorbs optical brighteners, which are found in laundry detergent, toothpaste and other cleaning products. These brighteners are not found in nature, so Chandler reasoned if a tampon suspended in a waterway showed evidence of the chemicals, it was proof of wastewater contamination.Chandler came to his conclusion while researching the