Realistic Atmospheric Taints

Charakan

Mongoose
A number of atmosphere codes generate tainted atmospheres that have atmospheric taints.

I tend to craft my planets rather than roll them randomly and have used pollutants on industrial worlds for tainted atmosphers.

I wanted to ask the more scientific members of the community if they could give me some realistic taints and possible rationales for there presence.

Thanks in advance.
 
A few examples from GURPS Space:

- Chlorine and Fluorine (e.g. odd biochemistry)
- Sulfur Compounds (e.g. industrial pollution, volcanic activity)
- Nitrogen Compounds (e.g. industrial pollution)
- Organic Toxins (e.g. pollen, spores)
- Heavy Metals
- Radioactive Dust
- Inert Gases (high partial pressure can lead to inert gas narcosis)
- High Carbon Dioxide
- High Oxygen
 
This has no basis in science, it's just what my group used for years...

Places that smell bad.... for example, IMTU, there's a planet in the Spinward Marches I described as "the smell of Terre Haute, IN pervades the air. Everywhere. Even inside, while the air filters make sure the air is fresh and cool, it still has that '750 lb. man breaks wind in front of you' smell"...

And remember, it's not just the air... "The planetary governor has ordered an extravagant meal prepared in your honor, as a thanks for your heroic actions. And try as you might, as you eat, all you can think is that somehow, there is a small part of that 'wind-breaking experience' in every bite".

Always remember, with UWPs, this is the referee's time to have fun. Taints are what you make of it. Some people will go for science... I prefer to go for Endurance checks and body gasses.

And if you're running a game where there are at least three teenagers in the group, the responses should be very satisfying. :lol:
 
Dust - even chemically inert dust (or sand) - would be a pollutant at a high enough concentration. It will get into your lungs, sting your eyes, find its way into bearings and other machinery parts... Not immediately lethal, but something to take into consideration when staying on planet (you'll need filter masks if the dust is fine enough, not to mention having to deal with rapid erosion of machines). The same goes to soot from heavy industry and its likes, though soot is more dangerous on the long run (it is carcinogenic in the same way as cigarette smoke is).

Ozone on sea-level or near it could be quite a pollutant (it is corrosive), especially with an Earth-type atmospheric pressure or more. Many of the smog issues in our world involve ozone, among other gases (such as sulfur compounds).

Oh, and about that high oxygen atmosphere discussed by rust... It has some interesting implications beyond the problems of oxygen toxicity itself. First, it will make everything far more flammable and every fire will be stronger, bigger and faster than on Earth.

Second, it will allow insects to evolve into larger sizes than on our modern earth, as insects use tracheal breathing, which is essentially the unassisted diffusion of oxygen from the atmosphere to the body's tissues through long tubes; the longer the distance the oxygen has to travel, the less efficient the diffusion, and this is one of the limiting factors for insect size. Higher oxygen concentration in the atmosphere makes diffusion easier and thus larger tracheal-breathing organisms could evolve. In the Carboniferous period on Earth (circa 350-300 million years ago) oxygen levels were more than 150% of the current level, resulting in insects evolving to large sizes, including dragonflies with a wingspan of 75cm!
 
I also consider that atmospheric taints need not be uniform. For instance, I have a planet in the SM with a toxic tained atmosphere that is high density. It layers at the surface, but on a few isolated high mountain peaks, the air is fresh and untained. It is in these rare locations that cities have been built. Of course they have sophisticated warning systems should there be rough weather......
 
Plant spores and pollen. IIRC, one of E.C. Tubb's Dumarest books had a planet covered in various forms of fungus, all giving off spores. I once had a planet with a sort of mega- poppy that was valued for its halucinogenic properties. Criminal types (PCs) were always trying to harvest some. Forget your filter mask, and look at the pretty colors!
 
I ran a planet where the inert gas at high partial pressures was helium....

We got through a dozen balloons that session :)
 
This and similar bits would make for nice supplemental pdfs, free and open perhaps so others could incorporate them. (though of course for just general in campaigns forums threads are a-ok)

Keep 'em coming, thanks!
 
Don't forget Low Oxygen. The atmospheric pressure may be Earth normal, but if you have only 15% oxygen, it is much more difficult to breath.

Some might argue that this type of atmosphere should be classified as Thin, but not necessarily.

Lower oxygen pressure would require a concentrator rather than a filter mask.

Also, fires would burn slower (or just glow without real flames in most cases) and insect life would probably be non-existent or use a different method of breathing.

Carbon Monoxide is another taint that I have used before.
 
Rikki Tikki Traveller said:
Don't forget Low Oxygen. The atmospheric pressure may be Earth normal, but if you have only 15% oxygen, it is much more difficult to breath.
Some might argue that this type of atmosphere should be classified as Thin, but not necessarily.
Lower oxygen pressure would require a concentrator rather than a filter mask.
Well yes, some would argue this type of atmo is thin. Thin= oxygen concentrator or oxygen reserve, tainted = filter of some sort (or better). No ?

For tainted atmos ideas:
*Airborn lethal virus (like spores, just more dangerous)
*chemical dangerous to eyes but reasonably breathable (filter can be replaced by goggles)
*mild corrosive chemical (dangerous only if bleeding)
 
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