Abstract Cyclodextrin-containing sensors to provide an early warning of contamination Éva Fenyvesi and László Jicsinszky High-sensitivity sensors arranged near an expected emission can release an alert at the first appearance of contaminants, before they affect the environment. These early-warning systems are of growing importance because of their potential to reduce environmental damage. This paper contains a brief overview of the literature on sensors using cyclodextrins, placing special emphasis on those that can detect organic contaminants in the air, surface-water and groundwater at very low concentrations, making them suitable for early-warning systems. Cyclodextrins can improve the sensitivity of sensors that are based on fluorescence, phosphorescence, infrared, surface acoustic waves or electric (piezo-electric or voltammetric) detection. Cyclodextrin derivatives bearing a chromophore/fluorophore moiety are especially selective and sensitive, due to their altered fluorescence spectrum in the presence of an appropriate competitive contaminant. These sensors are selective for the compounds that have higher affinity toward cyclodextrin than the chromophore/fluorophore group. The preparation and properties of a potential sensing compound, a b-cyclodextrin derivative with fluorescent substituents: fluorescein-modified cyclodextrin, are also reported. Key words: acoustic-wave detection, competitive complexation, environmental risk assessment, fluorescein, fluorescence, MOKKA, phosphorescence, surface plasmon resonance Land Contamination & Reclamation, 17 (3-4), 405-412 (2009) DOI 10.2462/09670513.951 © EPP Publications Ltd 2009 To purchase the full article as a pdf (price £19.00), please click on 'buy now'. Payment can be made by PayPal or credit card for immediate download. Article code 951 
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