
We reviewed the effect of lunar dust (regolith) on humans by the combination of the hazard/exposure of regolith and microgravity of the moon. With regard to the physicochemical properties of lunar dust, the hazard-related factors are its components, fibrous materials and nanoparticles. Animal exposure studies have been performed using a simulant of lunar dust, and it was speculated that the harmful effects of the simulant lies between those of crystalline silica and titanium dioxide. Fibrous materials may not have a low solubility judging from their components. The nanoparticles in lunar dust may have harmful potentials from the view of the components. As for exposure to regolith, there is a possibility that particles larger than ones in earth (1 gravity) are respirable. In microgravity, 1) the deposition of particles of less than 1 µm in diameter in the human lung did not decrease, 2) the functions of macrophages including phagocytosis were suppressed, 3) pulmonary inflammation was changed. These data on hazard/exposure and microgravity suggest that fine and ultrafine particles in regolith may have potential hazards and risks for humans.
Risk, Cosmic Dust, Chemical Phenomena, Weightlessness, Environmental Exposure, Phagocytosis, Macrophages, Alveolar, Animals, Humans, Nanoparticles, Particle Size, Moon, Lung
Risk, Cosmic Dust, Chemical Phenomena, Weightlessness, Environmental Exposure, Phagocytosis, Macrophages, Alveolar, Animals, Humans, Nanoparticles, Particle Size, Moon, Lung
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