Humans Landing On Mars Could Be In Trouble Because Of This Salt

A salt present on the Martian land could spell a disaster for humans who land on the planet to establish a colony. According to the researchers, the salt in question is 20,000 times more abundant on Mars than it is on Earth.

Perchlorates are a type of salts that helps water keep itself liquid on the surface of Mars. Although the salt can be helpful, the researchers believe that it could be particularly harmful for human colonies because of the excess concentration.

Although perchlorates can also break down to produce hydrogen that the future inhabitants of the human colonies established on the red planet can breathe, the researchers believe that it can have harmful effects on the health of an individual. The negative ion can help form different salts, however, the environmental form of the salt could potentially result in hyperactivity or under-activity of the thyroid.

The discovery of the perchlorates in the first placed solved the mystery surrounding the presence of water in liquid form on the planet. The planet's atmosphere allows water to exist either as ice or vapors. However, dissolved salts sometimes alter the chemistry and allows subsurface water to manifest itself as lakes or streams once in a while.

The study of perchlorates, thus, can help understand underground water present on the planet. In addition, it can also help researchers identify the appropriate location to establish human colonies on the planet.

However, there is a flip side too. Although perchlorates help keep water in liquid form, it is poisonous to drink and would not even support microbial communities. In addition to hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, perchlorates have been linked to a multitude of other health conditions such as aplastic anemia and other forms of fatal blood cell deficiencies.