ASGSB 1999 Annual Meeting Abstracts

FILTERING WATER SOURCES FOR USE IN HYDRATING INTRAVENOUS FLUIDS (IV) ONBOARD THE SPACE SHUTTLE AND INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION(ISS). J.D. Pounds¹, A. Twyman¹, P. Currier², K. DiBiase³, C. Cortes-Ramos³, R. Sumner³, A. Schlunt⁴, C. Slaughter⁵, K. Fong⁶. 1NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program, ²Dynamac, ³The Bionetics Corp, ⁴Faulkner Univ, ⁵Univ of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, ⁶Univ College of London Medical School.

In the space environment, there exists the likelihood of medical emergencies requiring the use of Intravenous (IV) Fluids. Aboard the Space Shuttle and ISS, dehydration caused by space motion sickness, burns, infection, and trauma are medical contingencies facing astronauts. However, due to the high cost associated with launching heavy payloads, the orbiter carries only two liters (or bags) of IV and the ISS will carry only six liters. A possible cost effective improvement to this situation includes sending an increased number of anhydrous IV bags along with a lightweight water filtration system for on board hydration and use. The NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program's (SLSTP) Flight Emphasis Group project FLUID (Filtering Liquids for Use in Intravenous Devices), explored the feasibility of producing pharmaceutical grade water by filtering various onboard water sources with a Reverse Osmosis (RO) system. The effects of the RO system on the water samples were determined for microbial content, pH, chloride content, chemical composition, conductivity, and endotoxin levels. Bacteria, endotoxin, chloride content, and pH levels were brought to within USP standards using the system. Conductivity did not fall within USP standards due possibly to restrained pump pressure. Findings support the idea that with a few additional improvements and further trials a similar RO system could be flown aboard the orbiter and ISS for use in future emergency medical situations.

(Supported by the NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program)

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