Learning Objective
Examine human responses to extreme environments, and
Address best practices and policies to minimize health risks.
Expectations
At the conclusion of this week, you should be able to:
Explain the differences between the acclimation and adaptation,
Identify potential physiological changes from exposure to microgravity environment [radiation effect excluded], and
Explain the maladaptation risks from rapid insertion into extreme environments
Background
Maladaptation to environmental exposures can result in negative consequences from intentional adaptation policy and/or decisions,
Can transcend beyond social and geographic boundaries, and
Can result is sickness or death.
For example:
Changes in hemoglobin structure protects against malaria parasite infection, but results in sickle cell and thalassemia diseases,
Ascent to altitude and pulmonary hypertension,
Microgravity and motion sickness.
Assignments
Review
Lesson 1,
The Lesson 2 power point presentation,
The George Mason Publication on policy development for extreme environments Part 2, and
The SMP Chapter 3 pages 104-109
In no more than 1000 words, provide and discuss an example for a successful outcome and a failed acclimation/adaptation process in long duration exposure to the microgravity environment [do not include radiation health].