Finnish researchers develop quick test kit for detecting phenolic compounds in drinking water

Phenolic compounds a problem in industrialised countriesClean drinking water is a diminishing natural resource in developing nations and in many industrialised countries. VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has developed a simple and inexpensive test kit that detects phenolic compounds in water. Sources of phenolic compounds found in drinking water include industrial wastewaters, drug residues and pipes. Certain phenolic compounds are toxic and some may even cause cancer. The method developed by VTT is based on a chemical reaction. A small test stick determines whether or not a