Editing International Space Station (section)

====Microbiological environmental hazards====
{{see also|Mir#Microbiological environmental hazards|l1=Microbiological environmental hazards on the Mir space station}}
Hazardous molds that can foul air and water filters may develop aboard space stations. They can produce acids that degrade metal, glass, and rubber. They can also be harmful to the crew's health. Microbiological hazards have led to a development of the [[LOCAD#Portable Test System|LOCAD-PTS]] (a portable test system) which identifies common bacteria and molds faster than standard methods of [[Cell culture|culturing]], which may require a sample to be sent back to Earth.<ref>{{cite web|last=Bell|first=Trudy E.|date=11 May 2007|title=Preventing "Sick" Spaceships|url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2007/11may_locad3/|access-date=29 March 2015|publisher=NASA|archive-date=14 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170514233537/https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2007/11may_locad3|url-status=dead}}</ref> Researchers in 2018 reported, after detecting the presence of five ''[[Enterobacter|Enterobacter bugandensis]]'' bacterial strains on the ISS (none of which are [[pathogen]]ic to humans), that microorganisms on the ISS should be carefully monitored to continue assuring a medically healthy environment for astronauts.<ref name="EA-20181122">{{Cite press release|url=https://www.biomedcentral.com/about/press-centre/science-press-releases/23-11-18|title=ISS microbes should be monitored to avoid threat to astronaut health|last=Korn|first=Anne|date=23 November 2018|publisher=[[BioMed Central]]|access-date=11 January 2019|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810145840/https://www.biomedcentral.com/about/press-centre/science-press-releases/23-11-18|archive-date=10 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="BMC-20181123">{{Cite journal|last1=Singh|first1=Nitin K.|last2=Bezdan|first2=Daniela|last3=Sielaff|first3=Aleksandra Checinska|last4=Wheeler|first4=Kevin|last5=Mason|first5=Christopher E.|last6=Vendateswaran|first6=Kasthuri|display-authors=1|date=23 November 2018|title=Multi-drug resistant Enterobacter bugandensis species isolated from the International Space Station and comparative genomic analyses with human pathogenic strains|journal=[[BMC Microbiology]]|volume=18|issue=1|page=175|doi=10.1186/s12866-018-1325-2|pmc=6251167|pmid=30466389|doi-access=free|bibcode=2018BMCMb..18..175S }}</ref>

Contamination on space stations can be prevented by reduced humidity, and by using paint that contains mold-killing chemicals, as well as the use of antiseptic solutions. All materials used in the ISS are tested for resistance against [[fungi]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Patrick L.|last=Barry|year=2000|title=Microscopic Stowaways on the ISS|url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast26nov_1/|access-date=29 March 2015|archive-date=2 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302090949/http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast26nov_1/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Since 2016, a series of ESA-sponsored experiments have been conducted to test the anti-bacterial properties of various materials, with the goal of developing "smart surfaces" that mitigate bacterial growth in multiple ways, using the best method for a particular circumstance. Dubbed "Microbial Aerosol Tethering on Innovative Surfaces" (MATISS), the programme involves deployment of small plaques containing an array of glass squares covered with different test coatings. They remain on the station for six months before being returned to earth for analysis.<ref name="eoportal-iss-matiss">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/iss-matiss|title=ISS: MATISS|date=30 June 2023|publisher=[[European Space Agency]]|access-date=11 June 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810132645/https://www.eoportal.org/other-space-activities/iss-matiss|archive-date=10 August 2023|website=eoportal.org}}</ref> The most recent and final experiment of the series was launched on 5 June 2023 aboard the [[SpaceX CRS-28]] cargo mission to ISS, comprising four plaques. Whereas previous experiments in the series were limited to analysis by [[Microscopy|light microsocopy]], this experiment uses quartz glass made of pure silica, which will allow [[Spectroscopy|spectrographic analysis]]. Two of the plaques were returned after eight months and the remaining two after 16 months.<ref name="arstechnica-20230608">{{Cite news|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/06/testing-antibacterial-surfaces-on-the-international-space-station/|title=Testing antibacterial surfaces on the International Space Station|last=Khadilkar|first=Dhananjay|date=8 June 2023|access-date=11 June 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108032832/https://arstechnica.com/science/2023/06/testing-antibacterial-surfaces-on-the-international-space-station/|archive-date=8 November 2023|work=[[Ars Technica]]}}</ref>

In April 2019, NASA reported that a comprehensive study had been conducted into the microorganisms and fungi present on the ISS. The experiment was performed over a period of 14 months on three different flight missions, and involved taking samples from 8 predefined locations inside the station, then returning them to earth for analysis. In prior experiments, analysis was limited to culture-based methods, thus overlooking microbes which cannot be grown in culture. The present study used [[Molecular diagnostics|molecular]]-based methods in addition to culturing, resulting in a more complete catalog. The results may be useful in improving the health and safety conditions for astronauts, as well as better understanding other closed-in environments on Earth such as clean rooms used by the pharmaceutical and medical industries.<ref name="EA-20190407">{{Cite press release|url=https://www.biomedcentral.com/about/press-centre/science-press-releases/08-04-19|title=NASA researchers catalogue all microbes and fungi on the International Space Station|last=Korn|first=Anne|date=7 April 2019|publisher=[[BioMed Central]]|access-date=30 August 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810131751/https://www.biomedcentral.com/about/press-centre/science-press-releases/08-04-19|archive-date=10 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="MBJ-20190408">{{Cite journal|last=Sielaff|first=Aleksandra Checinska|display-authors=et al.|date=8 April 2019|title=Characterization of the total and viable bacterial and fungal communities associated with the International Space Station surfaces|journal=Microbiome|volume=7|issue=50|page=50|doi=10.1186/s40168-019-0666-x|pmc=6452512|pmid=30955503|doi-access=free}}</ref>