Live experiment on WNL op Zondag TV program by Wim Noorduin

Yesterday, Wim Noorduin demonstrated the lead detection test developed by him and his research team on the Dutch-language TV program WNL op Zondag. NWO president Marcel Levi, a regular guest on the show, had invited Wim to join him in sharing the fascinating story of his discovery. 

While many people think lead poisoning is a problem of the past, Wim shared a staggering statistic: 1 in 3 children worldwide suffer from lead poisoning. “And there is plenty of lead to be found right here in the city center of Amsterdam.” 

Wim came up with the idea for the test during the COVID pandemic while watching the local AT5 news report about lead poisoning in Amsterdam. While biking to work, he thought, “wouldn’t it be great if I could use semiconductors to make this problem visible?” His PhD student, Lukas Helmbrecht, sent him some materials, and he started experimenting—on his neighbor’s rooftop. 

How does it work? Actually, quite simple! “We have invented a chemical reaction that makes lead react with the spray in our test developed by our start-up company Lumetallix. As a result, ultra-small crystals are formed that light up bright green under UV light.”

A live demonstration on the TV program showed just how easy it is. The vintage plate and beer glass Wim brought to the show glowed bright green, indicating the presence of lead. Fortunately, the coffee mugs from the TV show, featuring their logo, turned out to be lead-free!  

Watch a section of the show with Wim sharing his story and demonstrating the test: