Space dust has more organic contamination than the average US home

Levels of potentially harmful organic compounds in the dust aboard the International Space Station (ISS) are higher than those found in US and western European homes. It is the first time persistent organic chemicals have been detected in a non-terrestrial environment, and the team that carried out the analysis says that the findings will inform future material choices for manned spacecraft.

The contaminants found in this ‘space dust’ include polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), hexabromocyclododecane, brominated flame retardants, organophosphate esters, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs).