The idea to actually send astronauts to Mars is fascinating. However, there are health risks involved with such a venture which must be taken seriously.
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas reports there will be an increased risk for cancer in Mars astronauts due to collateral damage from cosmic rays. Researchers at UNLV have predicted a dramatic increase in cancer for these astronauts. There is heavy damage to cells from cosmic rays such as iron and titanium atoms because they have high rates of ionization.
UNLV scientist Francis Cucinotta, who is a leading scholar on radiation and space physics, says that 900 days or more will be needed for Mars missions. The extensive time in deep space makes exposures to all energies of galactic cosmic ray heavy ions unavoidable. Exposure risks would just be moderately lowered with present levels of radiation shielding.
Cucinotta has said that a cell's nucleus can be devastated by galactic cosmic ray exposure and can cause mutations which can lead to cancer. It has also been observed that signals are sent from the damaged cells to surrounding, unaffected cells and this likely modifies the tissues. It seems these signals lead to mutations of healthy cells which leads to more tumors or cancers.
This study has been published in Scientific Reports. It has become clear risk of cancer is a vital concern for galactic cosmic ray exposures. Cucinotta has been right to point out that increasing acceptable risk levels for long-term space missions outside of the protection of the Earth’s geomagnetic sphere raises serious ethical flags. The true nature of the risks are not yet completely understood and so further investigations of this matter are necessary.
