A biological sensor for the detection of toxicants

A method and an apparatus are described for rapidly detecting toxicants via the use of a first carbon dioxide sensing cell and a second reference carbon dioxide sensing cell, with each sensing cell including a first chamber and a second chamber, separated by a carbon dioxide permeable membrane, and a pH sensor disposed in each of the second chambers. The method includes the step of placing distilled water in the first chamber of each cell, and allowing its dissolved carbon dioxide to become equilibrated with the water in the second chamber, from which it is separated by the carbon dioxide permeable membrane. Next, exact amounts of a microorganism and sugar are added to small dishes in the first chambers along with control vegetation for one dish and vegetation to be tested to the other dish. Then the first chambers are completely filled with distilled water and the dishes are agitated to facilitate a solution of microorganisms and sugar.