The ISS Has Higher Levels of Potentially Harmful Contaminants Than Most Homes
, and could have implications for the design of future space stations that will succeed the ISS.Some of the contaminants found in the space dust, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , perfluoroalkyl substances , and polychlorinated biphenyls , have been banned or their use has been limited due to their potential effects on human health. Some PAH, for example, could increase the risk of cancer.
their persistence in the environment, potential for bioaccumulation, and association with various adverse health effects in humans. The team of researchers behind the study, however, point out that while the concentrations of the chemicals found on the ISS were higher than those found in most homes, “AdvertisementHow did these contaminants make their way to the ISS in the first place? It could be due to the use of inorganic flame retardants like ammonium dihydrogen phosphate to make fabrics and webbing on board the space station not flammable, the researchers suggest.
The ISS is equipped with a ventilation and contaminant removal system, which absorbs carbon dioxide and gaseous contaminants and recirculates the air eight to 10 times an hour. The researchers, however, are not exactly sure how efficient this system is at removing the chemical contaminants detected in the space station’s dust.The ISS is set to retire in 2030, but the space station serves as a blueprint for the design of future orbital labs currently in the making.
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