JODHPUR, May 17 -- In a major step towards ensuring safe and accessible drinking water, the department of electrical engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur has developed an innovative, portable, and low-cost device for on-site detection of arsenic contamination in water sources. The researchers said the breakthrough addresses one of the world's most serious environmental and health issues - arsenic toxicity in groundwater, which can cause life-threatening diseases even at very low levels. Dr Mahesh Kumar and his team at IIT Jodhpur created a mobile sensor that can detect arsenic in drinking water without needing a laboratory. The findings were recently published in the journal, Nanotechnology, by IOP Publishing. The device is designed for real-time water quality monitoring, especially in remote or low-income areas. It is easy to use, requires no complicated lab set-up or trained personnel, and can be operated directly on field. "Our goal was to develop a tool that combines scientific accuracy with ease of use at the grassroots level," said Kumar, the lead author of the study. "We hope this will help communities access safe drinking water and avoid serious health risks from arsenic," he added....