Health effects of atmospheric contamination

Abstract

As human missions reach deeper into space, crews must become more independent of ground controllers. With this in mind, future analytical instruments for air pollutants must provide data that are complete and that can be readily interpreted by onboard personnel who are neither toxicologists nor physicians. As spacecraft and habitat environments reach 100% closure for distant missions, the challenges of managing air pollutants will increase. Moreover, the addition of new pollutant sources (e.g., plant growth chambers, waste incineration, and dust) on celestial bodies will demand new strategies for providing safe air for crewmembers to breathe.