Pergamon zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA A&. space Res. Vol. 20, No. 10, pp. 1913-1922, 1997 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of COSPAR Printed in Great Britain 0273-l 177/97 $17.00 + 0.00 PII: SO273-1177(97)00625-X ACCUMULATION AND EFFECT OF VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS IN CLOSED LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS G. W. Stutte* and R. M. Wheeler** *J?vnamac zyxwvutsrqponmlkjihgfedcbaZYXWVUTSRQPONMLKJIHGFEDCBA Corporation, Mail Code DYN-3, Kennedy Space Center FL 32899 U.S.A. **Biomedical Operations and Research Ofice, Kennedy Space Center, FL 32899 U.S.A. ABSTRACT Bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) being considered for long duration space missions will operate with limited resupply and utilize biological systems to revitalize the atmosphere, purify water, and produce food. The presence of man-made materials, plant and microbial communities, and human activities will result in the production of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A database of VOC production from potential BLSS crops is being developed by the Breadboard Project at Kennedy Space Center. Most research to date has focused on the development of air revitalization systems that minimize the concentration of atmospheric contaminants in a closed environment. Similar approaches are being pursued in the design of atmospheric revitalization systems in bioregenerative life support systems, In a BLSS one must consider the effect of VOC concentration on the performance of plants being used for water and atmospheric purification processes. In addition to phytotoxic responses, the impact of removing biogenic compounds from the atmosphere on BLSS function needs to be assessed. This paper provides a synopsis of criteria for setting exposure limits, gives an overview of existing information, and discusses production of biogenic compounds from plants grown in the Biomass Production Chamber at Kennedy Space Center. INTRODUCTION Published by Elsevier Science Ltd on behalf of COSPAR Bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS) for long duration space missions are being designed to operate with limited resupply, utilizing biological systems to revitalize the atmosphere, purify water, and produce food. The diversity of material used in construction of such a.facility, the incorporation of plant and microbial processes for life support, and daily human activities suggest that volatile organic compounds will be produced and accumulate in the atmosphere. NASA has traditionally taken an industrial hygiene approach to the monitoring and control of organic constituents in the atmosphere and has established exposure limits and monitoring protocols (NASA, 1990; NASA, 1991). As NASA develops atmospheric control strategies for long-duration space missions, the role of volatile compounds on human physiology, human psychology, and plant physiology will need to be understood. Crew health and safety has been, and will continue to be, the overriding criterion when establishing standards for components used during space flight (NASA, 1991). Although standards have been established to maintain crew health and safety for long-duration space missions, no analogous standards have 1913