A number of well being issues each identified and unknown await these foolhardy explorers who (God forbid) would possibly try to breathe the mud of Mars. That’s a crude abstract of the findings of a brand new research by researchers from the College of Colorado Boulder.
The research, printed within the journal GeoHealthis the primary to take a complete have a look at the chemical components that make up Martian mud, and their attainable impacts on human well being. It was undertaken by a group from the worlds of medication, geology and aerospace engineering.
Lengthy-term publicity to Martian mud might result in persistent respiratory issues, thyroid illness and extra, in line with the findings.
“This isn’t the most dangerous part about going to Mars,” mentioned Justin Wang, lead creator of the research and a scholar within the Keck College of Drugs on the College of Southern California in Los Angeles. “But dust is a solvable problem, and it’s worth putting in the effort to develop Mars-focused technologies for preventing these health problems in the first place.”
Wang, a CU Boulder alumnus, famous that Apollo period astronauts skilled runny eyes and irritated throats after inhaling mud from the moon. Apollo 17’s Harrison Schmitt likened the signs to hay fever.
However scientists know quite a bit much less in regards to the potential harms of Martian mud. To start to reply that query, Wang and his colleagues drew on knowledge from rovers on Mars and even Martian meteorites to higher perceive what makes up the planet’s mud. The group found a “laundry list” of chemical compounds that might be harmful for folks—no less than when inhaled in giant portions and over lengthy intervals of time.
They embody minerals wealthy in silicates and iron oxides, metals like beryllium and arsenic and a very nasty class of compounds known as perchlorates.
In lots of circumstances, these components are current in solely hint quantities in Mars mud. However the first human explorers on Mars might spend round a 12 months and a half on the floor, growing their publicity, mentioned research co-author Brian Hynek.
“You’re going to get dust on your spacesuits, and you’re going to have to deal with regular dust storms,” mentioned Hynek, a geologist on the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Area Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder. “We really need to characterize this dust so that we know what the hazards are.”
Into the bloodstream
One factor is evident, he added: Mars is a dusty place.
A lot of the planet is roofed in a thick layer of mud wealthy in tiny particles of iron, which provides the planet its well-known pink shade. Swirling mud storms are frequent and, in some circumstances, can engulf your complete globe.
“We think there could be 10 meters of dust sitting on top of the bigger volcanoes,” mentioned Hynek, a professor within the Division of Geological Sciences. “If you tried to land a spacecraft there, you’re going to just sink into the dust.”
Wang discovered his personal technique to Martian mud by a singular educational path. He began medical college after incomes bachelor’s levels from CU Boulder in astronomy and molecular, mobile and developmental biology, adopted by a grasp’s diploma in aerospace engineering sciences. He at present serves within the Navy by its Well being Professions Scholarship Program.
He famous that the largest drawback with Martian mud comes right down to its measurement. Estimates recommend that the common measurement of mud grains on Mars could also be as little as 3 micrometers throughout, or roughly one-ten-thousandth of an inch.
“That’s smaller than what the mucus in our lungs can expel,” Wang mentioned. “So after we inhale Martian dust, a lot of it could remain in our lungs and be absorbed into our blood stream.”
An oz of prevention
Within the present research, Wang and a number of other of his fellow medical college students at USC scoured analysis papers to unearth the potential toxicological results of the components in Martian mud.
A few of what they discovered resembled frequent well being issues on Earth. Mud on Mars, for instance, comprises giant quantities of the compound silica, which is considerable in minerals on our personal planet. Individuals who inhale lots of silica, equivalent to glass blowers, can develop a situation often called silicosis. Their lung tissue turns into scarred, making it arduous to breath—signs just like the “black lung” illness that coal miners typically contract. Presently, there isn’t a treatment for silicosis.
In different circumstances, the potential well being penalties are a lot much less well-known.
Martian mud carries giant portions of extremely oxidizing compounds known as perchlorates, that are made up of 1 chlorine and a number of oxygen atoms. Perchlorates are uncommon on Earth, however some proof means that they’ll intrude with human thyroid perform, resulting in extreme anemia. Even inhaling just a few milligrams of perchlorates in Martian mud might be harmful for astronauts.
Wang famous that one of the best time to organize for the well being dangers of Martian mud is earlier than people ever make it to the planet. Iodine dietary supplements, for instance, would enhance astronauts’ thyroid perform, probably counteracting the toll of perchlorates—though taking an excessive amount of iodine also can, paradoxically, result in thyroid illness. Filters particularly designed to display out Martian mud might additionally assist to maintain the air in dwelling areas clear.
“Prevention is key. We tell everyone to go see their primary care provider to check your cholesterol before it gives you a heart attack,” Wang mentioned. “The best thing we can do on Mars is make sure the astronauts aren’t exposed to dust in the first place.”
Co-authors of the present research embody USC medical college students Jeremy Rosenbaum, Ajay Prasad and Robert Raad; Esther Putnam, former graduate scholar in aerospace engineering sciences at CU Boulder now at SpaceX; Andrea Harrington on the NASA Johnson Area Heart; and Haig Aintablian, director of the Area Drugs Program on the College of California, Los Angeles, additionally affiliated with SpaceX.
