Martian Dust May Pose Health Risk To Humans Exploring Red Planet, Study Finds
- Reference: 0176852433
- News link: https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/03/29/0035216/martian-dust-may-pose-health-risk-to-humans-exploring-red-planet-study-finds
- Source link:
> During Apollo missions to the moon, astronauts suffered from exposure to lunar dust. It clung to spacesuits and seeped into the lunar landers, causing coughing, runny eyes and irritated throats. Studies showed that chronic health effects would result from prolonged exposure. Martian dust isn't as sharp and abrasive as lunar dust, but it does have the same tendency to stick to everything, and the fine particles (about 4% the width of a human hair) can penetrate deep into lungs and enter the bloodstream. Toxic substances in the dust include silica, gypsum and various metals.
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> "A mission to Mars does not have the luxury of rapid return to Earth for treatment," the researchers [2]write in the journal GeoHealth . And the 40-minute communication delay will limit the usefulness of remote medical support from Earth. Instead, the researchers stress that limiting exposure to dust is essential, requiring air filters, self-cleaning space suits and electrostatic repulsion devices, for example.
[1] https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/26/martian-dust-may-pose-health-risk-to-humans-exploring-red-planet-study-finds
[2] https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2024GH001213
This is not surprising (Score:3, Interesting)
One of the most unrealistic parts of The Martian was his relative immunity to Martian dust. The MC goes on countless Mars walks and yet barely has an issue with dust getting into his vehicle or the habitat. A proper airlock would have a wash cycle or at least a blow off. A proper habitat would have to maintain high humidity. A vehicle would struggle with interior dust after just a few mars walks, since it would not have room for a proper clean.
Here on Earth, we have more water and more gravity. It will take a lot of air filters and a lot of water to keep the dust out of people's lungs over there.
Re: (Score:2)
One of the most unrealistic part was the flight to Mars.
In real life you're guaranteed to pick a radiation dose on the way that will leave you very, very sick when you get there. And then you'll step into an environment that will give you your yearly dose on Earth in under 10 days only from the secondary neutron flux.
Martian dust will be the least of your problems.
Re: (Score:1)
"The Apollo missions successfully navigated the Van Allen radiation belts with minimal health risks to astronauts. The spacecraft's aluminum hull provided effective shielding, reducing radiation exposure to harmless levels. Additionally, the rapid transit through the belts—approximately 52 minutes—limited exposure to about 13 rads, well below hazardous thresholds. Overall, the mission planning and spacecraft design ensured that the radiation doses received were within safe limits for the crew."
[1]h [nasa.gov]
[1] https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/smiii_problem7.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Re: (Score:2)
The longest Apollo mission lasted what, 12 days?
Your shortest flight to Mars is probably 7 months that way, and another 7 months back.
You're significantly more likely to pick an SPE on the way.
You won't have medical facilities to be treated.
But good luck.
Electrostatic field would be a solution (Score:1)
these dusts can be repelled by a good old van der graff machine. Just put half of the crew on electrostatic bicycles to protect the other half.
It's also toxic (Score:2)
From most chemical analysis that has been done on the surface, Martian soil/dust is thoroughly saturated with perchlorates. These are toxic and highly oxidizing chemicals, basically a component of many solid rocket fuels.
Mars is a hostile place to visit.
Re: (Score:3)
That's what you get from a planet with no atmospheric oxygen. On Earth, it took many million years to oxidize all the surface rocks, and it left behind the [1]banded iron formation [wikipedia.org]..
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banded_iron_formation
We're not even sure what Mars is made of (Score:2)
The entire reason Mars is red was assumed to be an iron oxide called Hematite(Fe2O3) for decades. [1]As it turns out [nature.com] it may be a completely different iron oxide called ferrihydrite((Fe3+)2O30.5H2O). So sure, maybe Martian dust is harmful to human health, or maybe just a little, or maybe not at all. Point is we don't actually know as much about Martian geology as you'd assume after decades of robots, so all we have right now is speculation, a few more facts would be really useful.
[1] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56970-z
Re: (Score:2)
I vote we send Elmo there to collect thee facts.....using AI.
UP next from the No Shit Sherlock dept... (Score:3)
... the 2 year journey to Mars might also be bad for human health.
I mean seriously - the composition of the martian soil has been known for a long time and even without the abrasive dust the perchlorates in it alone would destroy the lungs PDQ.
Have you been to India? (Score:3)
Worse than Mars.
Does not matter (Score:2)
You will always find fools, I mean true explorers, who would sacrifice themselves.
Microplastics (Score:1)
But at least no microplastics - yet!
Send Musk now !! (Score:2)
Let him back his words...... Send him one way.
causing coughing, runny eyes and irritated throats (Score:3)
Theres stuff that does that here on earth.
Re: (Score:2)
Correct, like silica, that's on Mars, too. What's your point?