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"Its
portability, reliability, and efficiency in capturing airborne microbes were important
considerations in being selected..." From Bioscience World,
Spring 1999
SAS Soars Into The Future
By Duane L. Pierson, Ph.D.
Senior Microbiologist, NASA
Airborne microbes may affect the health, safety, and performance of
astronauts just as airborne contaminants can affect indoor air quality on earth.
However, severe restrictions on weight, volume, power, maintenance, and east of use are
among the many constraints associated with conducting environmental assessment studies in
spacecraft.
Health risks are increased in spacecraft resulting from living and working in
relatively crowded conditions in a closed environment. Airborne trace gas
contaminants are removed by activated carbon, and microbes are reduced by electrostatic
precipitation.
The Russian cosmonauts have used the SAS air sampler for about one month to assess the
microbial air quality in the Space Station Mir for several years. Its portability,
reliability, and efficiency in capturing airborne microbes were important considerations
in being selected for spacecraft use.
All components of the sampler and media plates must be tethered or anchored by Velcro
to prevent losing parts in the microgravity of space. Trypticase Soy Agar is used
for bacterial contaminants whereas Czapek Agar and more recently Rose-Bengal Agar is used
for the culture of fungi.
After incubation, the plates are viewed by the cosmonauts and approximate quantitation
is achieved by using colony density charts. Photography is used to document the
findings, and these pictures are downlinked to experts on the ground for further
interpretation.
The Russian acceptability limits are 500 CFU/m3 for bacteria and 100 CFU/m3 for fungi.
The most commonly cultured bacteria are of human origin (e.g., Staphylococcus)
and hardy environmental microbes such as Bacillus. The most commonly
isolated fungi are Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium.
Generally, the microbial levels are low, but higher levels are observed with increases
in humidity and temperature during anomalies of the environmental control system.
The microbial species recovered from the air and surfaces of the Mir are similar to those
found on the Space Shuttle. Overall, results are consistent with a healthy
environment for human occupation.
Duane L. Pierson, Ph.D.
As NASA's senior microbiologist and expert on all microbiological aspects of space
flight, Dr. Pierson is responsible for formulating, developing and implementing NASA's
microbiology program for all current and future human exploration of space. His
microbiological and biochemical research from more than 25 years at Baylor College of
Medicine in Houston and at NASA's Johnson Space Center has been published in a wide
variety of peer-reviewed journals. NASA has recognized Dr. Pierson's accomplishments
through many awards including the Medal for Exceptional Scientific Achievement and the
Certificate of Commendation.
For More Information Contact:
Bioscience International
11607 Magruder Lane, Rockville MD 20852-4365
Tel: 301-230-0072
FAX: 301-230-1418
Internet: BioInfo@Biosci-Intl.com
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