A low-cost versatile system for continuous real-time respiratory activity measurement as a tool in environmental research

Abstract Low-cost sensors available on the market allow reliable and straightforward research of model organism responses to changes in environmental conditions caused by xenobiotics or natural ecological processes. The purpose of this work was to develop a low-cost Arduino-based respiratory activity measuring system employing CO2 sensors (ResTox) applicable for various research and risk assessment purposes, providing a stable platform and support for further development and extension of current capabilities. The presented system comprises hardware and accompanying software solutions. The instrument employs multiple digital CO2 measuring sensors based on non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) technology, a waterproof temperature sensor, and a phototransistor light sensor. The cross-platform ResTox software support enables simple control of the measuring device and sensor output data storage during the experiments. Due to its uncomplicated and compact design, the developed system represents a versatile solution for experiments in both field and laboratory conditions and with animal and plant organisms.