Toxic dust on Mars would present serious hazard for astronauts

Toxic dust on Mars would make a future mission to the red planet extremely hazardous for astronauts and require significant countermeasures, new research suggests.

Substances such as silica, gypsum, perchlorates and nanophase iron oxides contained in Martian dust could have life-threatening effects on members of a potential Mars mission, according to a study published in the journal GeoHealth last month.

“The biggest danger is the risk to astronauts’ lungs. Since the dust is so fine, it is expected to remain in astronauts’ lungs and some of it will be absorbed into the bloodstream,” study co-author Justin Wang, a medical student at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC), told CNN on Wednesday.

“Astronauts are already at risk for pulmonary fibrosis due to the radiation exposure in spaceflight, and many of the hazards including silica and iron oxides can cause pulmonary disease that could be superimposed.”

Wang also highlighted concerns that perchlorates – chemical compounds that have been detected at toxic levels in Martian soil – could cause thyroid dysfunction and aplastic anemia – a condition in which the body stops producing enough blood cells.

Given the length of time it would take to return to Earth from Mars, as well as a delay in communicating with our home planet, the key is to avoid dust exposure through dust filtration, cabin cleaning and the use of electrostatic repulsion devices, according to the study.

Nonetheless, Wang is optimistic that the toxic dust doesn’t make a Mars mission an impossibility.

“While the dust on Mars isn’t going to be the most dangerous part of a mission to the Red Planet, it’s definitely a hazard that can be harmful to astronauts, yet easily avoidable given we’re properly prepared for it,” he said.

Study co-author Brian Hynek, a professor simpleswap of geological sciences at the University of Boulder, highlighted the wider impacts of Martian dust.

“It’s constantly falling from the sky and covering everything. Every few years there are globe-encompassing storms that lay down a thick coat,” he told CNN, underlining that spacecraft, vehicles, solar panels and other equipment “will need constant attention to keep functioning.”

“Our rovers have already experienced this with loss of scientific instruments or the entire mission due to solar panels rendered too dusty to charge the batteries,” Hynek said.

“These secondary considerations will have a significant impact on humans as well.”

Julia Cartwright, an independent research fellow at the University of Leicester’s Institute for Space, who wasn’t involved in the study, told CNN that dust mitigation is a big issue for space exploration.