A bunch of well being issues each recognized 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 examine by researchers from the College of Colorado Boulder.
The examine, revealed within the journal GeoHealth, is the primary to take a complete take a look at the chemical components that make up Martian mud, and their potential impacts on human well being. It was undertaken by a workforce from the worlds of drugs, geology and aerospace engineering.
Lengthy-term publicity to Martian mud may result in power respiratory issues, thyroid illness and extra, based on the findings.
“This isn’t probably the most harmful half about going to Mars,” mentioned Justin Wang, lead creator of the examine and a pupil within the Keck Faculty of Drugs on the College of Southern California in Los Angeles. “However mud is a solvable drawback, and it’s price placing within the effort to develop Mars-focused applied sciences for stopping these well being issues within 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 loads much less concerning the potential harms of Martian mud. To start to reply that query, Wang and his colleagues drew on information from rovers on Mars and even Martian meteorites to higher perceive what makes up the planet’s mud. The group found a “laundry record” of chemical compounds that may very well be harmful for individuals—at the very least when inhaled in giant portions and over lengthy durations 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 instances, these components are current in solely hint quantities in Mars mud. However the first human explorers on Mars might spend round a yr and a half on the floor, rising their publicity, mentioned examine co-author Brian Hynek.
“You’re going to get mud in your spacesuits, and also you’re going to must take care of common mud storms,” mentioned Hynek, a geologist on the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Area Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder. “We actually must characterize this mud in order that we all 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 supplies the planet its well-known pink coloration. Swirling mud storms are frequent and, in some instances, can engulf your entire globe.
“We expect there may very well be 10 meters of mud sitting on prime of the larger volcanoes,” mentioned Hynek, a professor within the Division of Geological Sciences. “In the event you tried to land a spacecraft there, you’re going to only sink into the mud.”
Wang discovered his personal strategy to Martian mud by means of a novel 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 the moment serves within the Navy by means of its Well being Professions Scholarship Program.
He famous that the largest drawback with Martian mud comes right down to its measurement. Estimates counsel that the typical 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 mud, plenty of it may stay in our lungs and be absorbed into our blood stream.”
An oz. of prevention
Within the present examine, 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 plentiful in minerals on our personal planet. Individuals who inhale plenty of silica, corresponding to glass blowers, can develop a situation generally known as silicosis. Their lung tissue turns into scarred, making it exhausting to breath—signs much like the “black lung” illness that coal miners typically contract. Presently, there is no such thing as a treatment for silicosis.
In different instances, 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 intervene with human thyroid perform, resulting in extreme anemia. Even inhaling a couple of milligrams of perchlorates in Martian mud may very well be harmful for astronauts.
Wang famous that the very 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 can even, paradoxically, result in thyroid illness. Filters particularly designed to display screen out Martian mud may additionally assist to maintain the air in dwelling areas clear.
“Prevention is vital. We inform everybody to go see their major care supplier to verify your ldl cholesterol earlier than it offers you a coronary heart assault,” Wang mentioned. “The most effective factor we will do on Mars is be sure the astronauts aren’t uncovered to mud within the first place.”
Co-authors of the present examine embody USC medical college students Jeremy Rosenbaum, Ajay Prasad and Robert Raad; Esther Putnam, former graduate pupil 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.