From a distance Mars seems stunning, however sending astronauts to discover the planet may be more difficult than first thought, because of the presence of poisonous mud. A brand new research identifies a number of the well being hazards and discusses the type of private protecting gear that astronauts may want.
Throughout Apollo missions to the moon, astronauts suffered from publicity to lunar mud. It clung to spacesuits and seeped into the lunar landers, inflicting coughing, runny eyes and irritated throats. Research confirmed that continual well being results would outcome from extended publicity. Martian mud isn’t as sharp and abrasive as lunar mud, nevertheless it does have the identical tendency to stay to every thing, and the wonderful particles (about 4% the width of a human hair) can penetrate deep into lungs and enter the bloodstream. Poisonous substances within the mud embrace silica, gypsum and varied metals.
“A mission to Mars doesn’t have the luxurious of fast return to Earth for remedy,” the researchers write within the journal GeoHealth. And the 40-minute communication delay will restrict the usefulness of distant medical help from Earth. As an alternative, the researchers stress that limiting publicity to mud is crucial, requiring air filters, self-cleaning house fits and electrostatic repulsion units, for instance.
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