1,2Scott J. VanBommel (>10)
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 123, e2620747123
Open Source Link to Article [DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2620747123]
1McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences, Department of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130
2Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX 77058
Human exploration of Mars requires a thorough characterization of surface hazards before crews arrive. Using in situ X-ray fluorescence data from the Perseverance rover, we provide direct characterization of fine (≲2.5 µm) and ultrafine (≲0.1 µm) Martian dust fractions. These respirable particles are small enough to penetrate deep into pulmonary alveoli, bypass the blood–brain barrier, and threaten vital organs. We show that this toxic, reactive dust persistently adheres to spacesuit- and habitat-analogous materials via electrostatic and mechanical sorting. These findings deliver an empirical foundation essential for defining crew safety standards, planetary protection protocols, and environmental control designs well ahead of human surface deployment.
