TUC Risks 23rd March 2007 www.tuc.org.uk
Reported that scientists are investigating the possible threat to astronauts of inhaling lunar dust.
A study suggests the smallest particles in lunar dust might be cause lung scarring and other health effects.
Nasa, the US space agency has set up a working group to look into the matter ahead of its planned return to the Moon by 2020. Astronaut Harrison H (Jack) Schmitt, the last man to step on to the Moon in Apollo 17, complained of 'lunar dust hay fever' when his dirty space suit contaminated the habitation module after an energetic foray on the lunar surface.
Nasa is now keen to assess the effects of more prolonged exposure and to address the problem before humans are sent back to the Moon in just over a decade. The researchers suggest it is possible lunar dust could cause fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs, similar to that caused by asbestos or silica.
Professor Larry Taylor, director of the Planetary Geosciences Institute at Tennessee said: 'The medical doctors are interested in things that are less than about three microns. So we did some particle size determinations and discovered that a very large portion of lunar soil is potentially dangerous, approximately 1-3 per cent of the total soil by weight.' Other possible concerns are the minute nano-sized particles which could pass directly from the lung into the bloodstream.
Reported that scientists are investigating the possible threat to astronauts of inhaling lunar dust.
A study suggests the smallest particles in lunar dust might be cause lung scarring and other health effects.
Nasa, the US space agency has set up a working group to look into the matter ahead of its planned return to the Moon by 2020. Astronaut Harrison H (Jack) Schmitt, the last man to step on to the Moon in Apollo 17, complained of 'lunar dust hay fever' when his dirty space suit contaminated the habitation module after an energetic foray on the lunar surface.
Nasa is now keen to assess the effects of more prolonged exposure and to address the problem before humans are sent back to the Moon in just over a decade. The researchers suggest it is possible lunar dust could cause fibrosis, or scarring of the lungs, similar to that caused by asbestos or silica.
Professor Larry Taylor, director of the Planetary Geosciences Institute at Tennessee said: 'The medical doctors are interested in things that are less than about three microns. So we did some particle size determinations and discovered that a very large portion of lunar soil is potentially dangerous, approximately 1-3 per cent of the total soil by weight.' Other possible concerns are the minute nano-sized particles which could pass directly from the lung into the bloodstream.
No comments:
Post a Comment