Could lunar dust be toxic to astronauts?
Image Credit: NASA
As NASA prepares to return to the moon by the year 2020, Kim Prisk of the National Space Biomedical Research Institute is studying a space hazard – lunar dust.
Kim Prisk: From what we know about lunar dust, it’s fairly reactive and it has properties that are quite similar to fresh fractured quartz here on Earth. And fresh fractured quartz is known to be very toxic .
Even airtight space gear can’t protect astronauts.
Kim Prisk: It sticks because of electrostatic attraction to the space suits, and basically, they track it into the modules.
The moon’s low gravity might cause dust to penetrate deeply into an astronaut’s lungs, causing swelling, asthma or bronchitis. Prisk said the task at hand is to determine just how much dust is safe for astronauts to inhale.
Kim Prisk: One of the first things that has to happen is setting an acceptable exposure standard for lunar dust. We know we can’t set an exposure standard of zero… And as with all these things, this is a Goldilocks solution. You want it just right, not too high, not too low, just right.
He said this research could benefit Earth – resulting in new ways to deliver medicine directly to the lungs in spray form.
Special thanks today to the National Space Biomedical Research Institute —
innovations for health in space and on Earth.
I think its good that people are thinking about health hazards on the moon, not just about exploration.
Why not a zero percent exposure goal?
why wasnt this a problem with the apolo missions?
@ Joe
the more you can measure, the bigger the panic
with this i mean that the hazard of moondust was not known at that moment,same as asbestos.
now we know better
I like the suit,and I want to go to where you are when I am big.
I have heard that some of the plans for future lunar habitats include a space suit that is “docked” to the outside of the module. That way there is no need to bring the suit inside. Astronauts would simply crawl in and somehow seal up the back.
In any case there needs to be a clean room where with positive air pressure and filters that would keep the dust out of the main habitat. Whenever astronauts would go in to work on the suits they could wear protective clothing and air mask. The asbestos abatement industry does this all the time.
Lastly if this dust is electrostatically attracted to the suits, could they not run an small opposite charge on the outside of the suit to repel some of the dust?
heyy , Emily…your right it is a good thing that there not just worried about exploring. Joe… good point but i don’t know much about the apolo missions so i can’t comment. Alex… a zero percent wouldn;t work…i will probley never be on this sight again because i just found it when i was doing a project for my science teacher on moons..so don’t comment back cause i will never get this message =] peace out