Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
NASA seeks to ensure the health, safety, and functional abilities of astronauts and to prevent the exposure of astronauts to toxic levels of spacecraft contaminants. Consequently, exposure limits need to be established for continuous exposure of astronauts too spacecraft contaminants for up to 180 days (for normal space-station operations) and for short-term (1-24 hr) emergency exposures to high levels of contaminants. The SMAC reports are intended for use by engineers.
Synopsis
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has measured numerous airborne contaminants in spacecraft during space missions because of the potential toxicological hazards to humans that might be associated with prolonged spacecraft missions.
This volume reviews the spacecraft maximum allowable concentrations (SMACs) for various contaminants to determine whether NASA's recommended exposure limits are consistent with recommendations in the National Research Council's 1992 volume Guidelines for Developing Spacecraft Maximum Allowable Concentrations for Space Station Contaminants.