An AI-powered breath test could detect silicosis early
This innovative tool aims to improve early detection and treatment of silicosis, a serious lung disease caused by inhaling silica dust. By analyzing breath samples, the tool can identify biomarkers associated with the disease at an earlier stage. This could lead to better outcomes for patients and reduce the impact of silicosis on their health. The development of this diagnostic tool represents a significant advancement in the field of respiratory health. Early detection is crucial for effectively managing and treating silicosis, and this new tool has the potential to make a positive impact in the field.
A new diagnostic tool developed by physicians and scientists from UNSW Sydney that analyzes a person's breath for signs of silicosis has the potential to catch the disease earlier rather than wait for irreversible lung damage to appear. In a study published in the Journal of Breath Research by Professor William Alexander Donald and Conjoint Professor Deborah Yates, the researchers describe a rapid, AI-powered breath test that could transform the way silicosis is diagnosed. The test combines mass spectrometry —a scientific technique that analyzes molecules—and AI to rapidly detect silicosis from breath samples, providing a fast and non-invasive diagnostic tool for at-risk workers.
Silicosis in Australia
Silicosis, which is a lung disease caused by inhaling tiny crystalline particles of silicon dioxide, is a major occupational health concern in Australia, with cases now extending beyond engineered stone workers to workers in tunneling and construction. The Australian government has responded with a ban on engineered stone, but with new cases emerging from other high-risk industries, there is an urgent need for better diagnostic tools.
Advantages of the New Test
Unlike traditional methods such as X-rays and CT scans that detect silicosis at later stages, the UNSW-developed test provides results in minutes. "Our study shows that the AI-driven model accurately distinguished silicosis patients from healthy individuals based on their breath profiles, providing a reliable tool for early detection," says lead researcher Prof. Donald, from UNSW's School of Chemistry. "This suggests that breath testing could be a practical tool for large-scale worker screening and early intervention."
How the Test Works
The study analyzed breath samples from 31 silicosis patients and 60 healthy controls, confirming the test's ability to differentiate between affected and unaffected individuals with high accuracy. To be tested for silicosis using the new technology, participants breathe into a bag. The breath content then gets pushed to a mass spectrometer which detects all the different molecules present.
"In human breath, there are thousands of organic molecules that you breathe out," Prof. Donald says. "Our instrument can make a profile of someone's breath, and then we feed that into an artificial intelligence algorithm that's really good at finding patterns. In this case, it's looking for patterns in the organic compounds that are present in the breath of people in the early stages of silicosis."
The entire breath sampling and analysis process takes less than five minutes per patient, making it suitable for routine screening of at-risk workers. "By combining advanced chemical analysis techniques with AI, it means we can now detect silicosis in minutes rather than waiting for irreversible lung damage to appear on scans," Prof. Donald says.
Future Implications
The researchers emphasize that while the breath test shows great promise, further validation in larger cohorts is needed before it can be implemented as a routine screening tool. The instrument is a compact benchtop system, occupying less than a cubic meter, making it feasible for installation in clinical settings for point-of-care testing.
Future studies will refine the technique, integrate it into screening programs for silica-exposed workers, and explore its ability to differentiate silicosis from other lung diseases.
Early Detection and Prevention
Prof. Yates emphasizes the importance of early detection to prevent the progression of silicosis. She notes that there is no cure for silicosis and that it is crucial to remove affected workers from further silica exposure to halt the disease's advancement.
In addition to silicosis, silica exposure can lead to other serious diseases such as lung fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma. The new breath testing technique offers a non-invasive method to monitor at-risk workers for the development of silicosis.