07-07-2017, 06:48 AM
I believe most of the toxic materials are things like superoxides and peroxides. Both of these decompose quite rapidly if exposed to water; make Mars wetter and at least some of the problem goes away. Superoxides produce gaseous oxygen which is no problem; peroxides produce hydrogen peroxide, which doesn't last very long especially if there are catalysts present. It so happens that various transition metal oxides are good catalysts for this reaction - including iron oxide, in plentiful supply.
There are also perchlorates present, and I admit they would be more of a problem. However, as the linked article implied, Martian organisms would have had several billion years to evolve the use of perchlorate as an oxidant. Not impossible, I think; it ought to be remembered that quite a lot of Earthly bugs find oxygen lethal. Obviously, not all of them.
There are also perchlorates present, and I admit they would be more of a problem. However, as the linked article implied, Martian organisms would have had several billion years to evolve the use of perchlorate as an oxidant. Not impossible, I think; it ought to be remembered that quite a lot of Earthly bugs find oxygen lethal. Obviously, not all of them.