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 examine by researchers from the College of Colorado Boulder.
The examine, revealed within the journal GeoHealth, is the primary to take a complete have a look at the chemical substances that make up Martian mud, and their attainable impacts on human well being. It was undertaken by a group from the worlds of drugs, geology and aerospace engineering.
Lengthy-term publicity to Martian mud might result in power respiratory issues, thyroid illness and extra, in keeping with the findings.
“This isn’t essentially the most harmful half about going to Mars,” mentioned Justin Wang, lead writer of the examine and a scholar within the Keck Faculty of Medication 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 lots 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 raised perceive what makes up the planet’s mud. The group found a “laundry record” of chemical compounds that may very well be harmful for folks—no less than 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 substances are current in solely hint quantities in Mars mud. However the first human explorers on Mars could spend round a 12 months and a half on the floor, growing their publicity, mentioned examine co-author Brian Hynek.
“You’re going to get mud in your spacesuits, and also you’re going to need to cope with common mud storms,” mentioned Hynek, a geologist on the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Area Physics (LASP) at CU Boulder. “We actually have to 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 provides the planet its well-known purple colour. Swirling mud storms are widespread and, in some instances, can engulf the complete globe.
“We predict 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 case you tried to land a spacecraft there, you’re going to only sink into the mud.”
Wang discovered his personal method to Martian mud via a singular tutorial path. He began medical faculty 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 via its Well being Professions Scholarship Program.
He famous that the most important drawback with Martian mud comes all the way down to its measurement. Estimates recommend 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, quite a lot of it might stay in our lungs and be absorbed into our blood stream.”
An oz. of prevention
Within the present examine, Wang and several other of his fellow medical college students at USC scoured analysis papers to unearth the potential toxicological results of the substances in Martian mud.
A few of what they discovered resembled widespread well being issues on Earth. Mud on Mars, for instance, incorporates giant quantities of the compound silica, which is considerable in minerals on our personal planet. Individuals who inhale quite a lot of silica, similar to glass blowers, can develop a situation referred to as silicosis. Their lung tissue turns into scarred, making it exhausting to breath—signs just like the “black lung” illness that coal miners usually contract. Presently, there is no such thing as a remedy 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 will intrude 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 most effective 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, doubtlessly counteracting the toll of perchlorates—though taking an excessive amount of iodine can even, 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 essential. We inform everybody to go see their major care supplier to test your ldl cholesterol earlier than it provides you a coronary heart assault,” Wang mentioned. “The very best factor we are able to do on Mars is ensure that 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 scholar in aerospace engineering sciences at CU Boulder now at SpaceX; Andrea Harrington on the NASA Johnson Area Middle; and Haig Aintablian, director of the Area Medication Program on the College of California, Los Angeles, additionally affiliated with SpaceX.
