Moon Dust & Cosmic Radiation: Risks of Bringing it to Earth's Surface

[bwinter]

This article mentions moon dust as "subjected to a millenia of UV radiation" as if it's a bad thing. UV would simply irradiate the dust, not make it more hazardous correct?

Perhaps they meant "a millenia of cosmic radiation" which would be much more problematic, no?

If this line of questioning seems pedantic, it's because I'm trying to suss out some details for some fiction writing. Any input would be helpful, specifically, what are some of the hazards of moon material coming to Earth's surface?

 

[Nugatory]

Perhaps they meant "a millenia of cosmic radiation" which would be much more problematic, no?

Not really.

I'd be inclined to blame that meaningless-in-context comment about radiation on uninformed copy-editing.

 

[bwinter]

I assumed as much. Ugh, my favorite kind of journalism...

So is lunar dust particularly radioactive at all?

 

[D H]

Ugh. That's one bad popsci headline.

The issue isn't that UV radiation and the solar wind make the dust radioactive. That's nonsense. The issue is that it alters the surface chemistry and shape of the lunar dust. It turns the already hazardous lunar dust into stuff full of even sharper edges and loaded with free radicals. The lunar dust apparently makes asbestos look downright safe. The general public is clueless with regard to why asbestos is dangerous. They're also clueless about why radiation is dangerous, but they do know that radiation is even scarier than asbestos. Hence the title.

Here's the scientific article on which this popsci article was based:
D. Linnarsson et al., Toxicity of lunar dust, Planetary and Space Science 74:1 57-71 (2012)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032063312001365
arxiv preprint: http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/1206.6328

 

[pmacias]

As a scientist, it is important to carefully consider all potential risks and hazards associated with bringing moon dust and material to Earth's surface. While UV radiation may not necessarily make the dust more hazardous, there are still other factors to consider.

Firstly, as you mentioned, the moon's surface has been bombarded by cosmic radiation for millennia. This means that any moon material brought to Earth's surface would likely contain higher levels of radiation than what we are used to on Earth. This could potentially pose a health risk to humans and other living organisms.

Additionally, moon dust is known to be very fine and abrasive, with sharp edges and a high silica content. This could be harmful to our respiratory systems if inhaled, leading to lung damage and potential respiratory issues.

Furthermore, moon dust may also contain toxic substances such as iron, titanium, and aluminum, which could be harmful to the environment if released into our ecosystems.

In terms of fiction writing, it would be important to consider these potential hazards and their effects on humans and the environment. Perhaps your characters would need to take precautions when handling moon material, such as wearing protective gear to prevent inhalation or exposure to radiation. You could also explore the long-term effects of introducing moon material to Earth's environment and how it could impact our planet.

In summary, while UV radiation may not necessarily make moon dust more hazardous, there are still other factors to consider such as cosmic radiation, toxicity, and abrasiveness. It is important to carefully weigh the potential risks before bringing any moon material to Earth's surface.