Friday, 31 Oct 2025
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
logo logo
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
  • 🔥
  • Trump
  • VIDEO
  • House
  • White
  • ScienceAlert
  • Trumps
  • Watch
  • man
  • Health
  • Season
Font ResizerAa
American FocusAmerican Focus
Search
  • World
  • Politics
  • Crime
  • Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • More
    • Education
    • Celebrities
    • Culture and Arts
    • Environment
    • Health and Wellness
    • Lifestyle
Follow US
© 2024 americanfocus.online – All Rights Reserved.
American Focus > Blog > Tech and Science > Vapour-sniffing drug detector tested at the US-Mexico border
Tech and Science

Vapour-sniffing drug detector tested at the US-Mexico border

Last updated: July 7, 2025 7:50 am
Share
Vapour-sniffing drug detector tested at the US-Mexico border
SHARE

The US Customs and Border Protection agency is currently trialing a groundbreaking technology that can detect illegal substances in the air without any physical contact. This innovative device, known as the VaporID detector, has the potential to revolutionize the screening process at border crossings by rapidly identifying drugs like fentanyl, a potent opioid that is fueling the opioid crisis in the United States.

Developed over a decade by a team led by Robert Ewing at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Washington state, the VaporID detector is incredibly sensitive and can pinpoint specific substances from a distance of 0.6 to 2.4 meters at levels as low as 10 parts per quadrillion. To put this into perspective, this level of sensitivity is akin to finding a single coin in a stack of pennies that is 17 million times taller than Mount Everest.

The key to this exceptional sensitivity lies in the device’s design, which allows molecules from target substances to interact with other molecules in the air for an extended period, increasing the likelihood of a detectable chemical reaction. Unlike traditional detection devices that provide only milliseconds for reactions to occur, the VaporID detector offers several seconds of reaction time, resulting in a significant boost in sensitivity.

The commercial version of the VaporID detector, developed by BaySpec, weighs 18 kilograms and is roughly the size of a microwave oven. Although slightly less sensitive than the PNNL lab version, which is larger and heavier, the portable device still outperforms traditional detection methods like canine units in terms of accuracy and sensitivity.

See also  No Change to Immigration, Border Policy During Government Shutdown: ICE

During tests conducted at a Customs and Border Protection facility in Nogales, Arizona, the VaporID detector successfully identified a range of illicit substances, including cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and methamphetamine. The device’s versatility was demonstrated through various testing methods, such as analyzing vapor from sample vials and swabbing surfaces for trace amounts of drugs.

While the prototype is still undergoing evaluation and review, experts like Alex Krotulski from the Center for Forensic Science Research & Education remain cautious about fully endorsing the technology until it has been thoroughly validated through rigorous scientific testing. Despite the potential of the VaporID detector as a valuable tool in combating drug trafficking, experts like Richard Crocombe emphasize that no single detection method can meet all needs, and a comprehensive approach involving multiple techniques is crucial.

Furthermore, concerns about false positives and potential repercussions on innocent individuals inadvertently exposed to drug residue highlight the need for careful consideration and oversight in implementing such screening technologies. Ultimately, while advanced detection devices like the VaporID detector play a vital role in intercepting illicit substances, addressing the root causes of issues like the opioid crisis requires a multifaceted approach that includes robust public health initiatives, accessible healthcare, and widespread treatment options.

TAGGED:BorderdetectorDrugtestedUSMexicoVapoursniffing
Share This Article
Twitter Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article How climate change is worsening flooding and heavy rainfall How climate change is worsening flooding and heavy rainfall
Next Article Kinetics awards seventh FSRU project to Seatrium Kinetics awards seventh FSRU project to Seatrium
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Popular Posts

50 years ago, physics underwent a major revolution

Particle physics is a field that constantly surprises scientists with new discoveries and challenges. One…

December 2, 2024

A Daily Animation Project Flows Through 10,946 Post-It Notes — Colossal

Los Angeles-based animator Daren Jannace embarked on a creative project that involved sketching 30 tiny…

November 16, 2024

Dogs pollute water with pesticides even weeks after flea treatment

Dogs treated for fleas release insect-killing chemicals into water when they swimNatalya_Maisheva/Shutter​stock If your dog…

June 2, 2025

40 Team-Building Games for Adults That Energize Staff Meetings

Team-building games for adults are essential in fostering a sense of community and collaboration among…

July 30, 2025

OUTRAGE: CPS Storms Navy Vet’s Home, Takes Newborn at Gunpoint Without Cause! | Elijah Schaffer’s Top 5 (VIDEO) |

Join us for ’s Week-in-Review with Elijah Schaffer, where he dissects the top five stories…

April 14, 2025

You Might Also Like

Stopping breaches at machine speed demands agents, not alerts
Tech and Science

Stopping breaches at machine speed demands agents, not alerts

October 31, 2025
Trump’s Baffling Call for Resuming U.S. Nuclear Tests
Tech and Science

Trump’s Baffling Call for Resuming U.S. Nuclear Tests

October 31, 2025
Nanotyrannus: Dinosaur skeleton settles long debate over ‘tiny T. rex’ fossils
Tech and Science

Nanotyrannus: Dinosaur skeleton settles long debate over ‘tiny T. rex’ fossils

October 30, 2025
A Signal Hidden Deep in Your Brain Could Track Parkinson’s Symptoms : ScienceAlert
Tech and Science

A Signal Hidden Deep in Your Brain Could Track Parkinson’s Symptoms : ScienceAlert

October 30, 2025
logo logo
Facebook Twitter Youtube

About US


Explore global affairs, political insights, and linguistic origins. Stay informed with our comprehensive coverage of world news, politics, and Lifestyle.

Top Categories
  • Crime
  • Environment
  • Sports
  • Tech and Science
Usefull Links
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA

© 2024 americanfocus.online –  All Rights Reserved.

Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?