A new study has found that concentrations of toxic pollutants in the dust of the International Space Station (ISS) are larger than those found in Earth dust in many American homes.
The levels of organic pollutants in international space filter dust samples were higher than the average values found in homes in the United States and Western Europe, according to the study published Tuesday in the journal Nature. Science and Environmental Technology Letters.
“Our findings have implications for space stations and future habitats, as it may be possible to exclude many sources of pollutants carefully selecting materials in the early stages of project and construction,” said co -author Stuart Harrad, professor of environmental chemistry at Michigan University. Birmingham, said V.I. A permission.
The contaminants identified in the so -called “space dust” included polybromed diphyllic eetres (PBDES), hexabromocyclodecan (HBCDD), “new” bromed flame retarders (BFRS), organophosphate (OPES) and Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). Polyfluoroalchil (PFAS) and polychlorate (PCBS) biphnyls.
The authors observed that some commercially manufactured PBDES are classified as POPs by the UNEP Stockholm Convention, as well as PCBs, some PFAS and HBCDD.
Meanwhile, some PAHs have been classified as carcinogens for humans, and some PEs are being considered for ECA restriction.
Researchers explain that bromado flame retarders (BFRS) and OPES (OPES) are used in many countries to meet fire safety regulations in applications such as electrical equipment, isolation of buildings, furniture fabrics and foams.
PAHs are issued in combustion processes associated with hydrocarbones, while PCBs are used in seals of buildings and windows and electrical equipment.
Pafas, also known as “eternal chemicals”, are important ingredients in certain types of fire -fighting foams, as well as in many consumer products such as nonstick pots, waterproof clothes and cosmetics.
The authors hypothesized that the presence of PBDES in ISS dust samples could be caused by inorganic fire retarders, which are used to prevent the ignition of tissues and webs.
Scientists have observed that the International Space Station has “an internal environment inhabited by humans for over 20 years since its launch in November 1998”. They explained that exposure from spacecraft to fire means that “extreme attention is given to the inflammability of the contents of the International Space Station.”
According to the study, air within the International Space Station is constantly recycled, with 8 to 10 exchanges per hour. Although the system eliminates carbon dioxide and gas pollutants, it is not known to what extent it can remove chemicals such as flame retarders.
In addition to fire retardants, the researchers also identified “commercial” onboard items – such as cameras, mp3 players, tablets, medical devices and clothing – as potential sources of many of the chemicals they discovered.
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Although the levels of these pollutants exceed many homes in the United States and Western Europe, Harrad said the concentrations of these chemicals “were usually within the track found on Earth.”
However, Harrad and his colleagues are hopeful that their discoveries can be an asset, as policy formulators plan a future that extends more and further to Earth’s borders.
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