Why Martian dust may pose health risks to astronauts

The findings are significant as NASA and the Chinese Manned Space Agency (CMS) plan to send their astronauts to Mars in the following decade. Their missions involve astronauts staying on Mars for months, and eventually lead to the creation of long-duration habitats on the surface.

Every Martian year (which lasts 686.98 Earth days), the planet witnesses regional dust storms that coincide with summer in the southern hemisphere. Every three Martian years, these storms grow into planet-encircling dust storms.

What are the findings of the study?

Researchers found that the size of a Martian dust particle is quite small (it is about 4% the width of a human hair), which makes it more hazardous for humans.

“The average dust particle size on Mars is much smaller than the minimum size that the mucus in our lungs is able to expel, so they are more likely to cause disease,” Justin L Wang, a researcher at the University of Southern California and lead author of the study, told Phys.org over an email.

Moreover, there could be several toxic elements which astronauts could be exposed to on the planet. For instance, there is an abundance of silica dust and iron dust. Silica is known to cause silicosis, which is a type of lung disease, and is a common occupational hazard for coal miners.

Martian dust also comprises toxic substances such as perchlorates and gypsum, and harmful metals like chromium and arsenic. The researchers said the impact of these toxins could be more significant due to microgravity and radiation on Mars.

“In particular, radiation exposure can cause lung disease, which can compound the effects that dust will have on astronauts’ lungs,” said Wang.

How to deal with Martian dust?

The researchers in their study have described different ways to limit dust contamination. For example, they have suggested the use of Vitamin C to prevent diseases from chromium exposure. The researchers have also said that iodine could help tackle thyroid diseases from perchlorate.

The study highlighted that the use of air filters, self-cleaning space suits and electrostatic repulsion devices (they remove dust particles) is essential to limit exposure to dust. Such measures are necessary to mitigate the risk as “a mission to Mars does not have the luxury of rapid return to Earth for treatment,” the study says.