In a twist that challenges decades of assumptions, researchers have discovered that dust from the Moon may be less harmful to human lungs than the air pollution commonly inhaled in modern cities.
Eugene A. Cernan driving the Lunar Roving Vehicle on the moon during the Apollo 17 mission.Credit: NASA/Getty Images
The study, published in Life Sciences in Space Research, set out to compare the health impacts of lunar dust and urban particulate matter on human lung cells. Though both types of dust are harmful, the findings suggest that lunar dust — while irritating — may actually pose less toxicity than city air pollution, offering promising implications for the future of human space exploration.
Breathing in the Moon vs. the Metropolis
For years, lunar dust was considered one of the most hazardous aspects of Moon missions, based largely on reports from the Apollo astronauts of the 1960s and ’70s. Several crew members described symptoms such as sneezing, sore throats, and eye irritation after coming into contact with fine, clingy lunar dust that entered their lunar modules after moonwalks. Apollo 17 astronaut Harrison Schmitt even coined the term “lunar hay fever” to describe his symptoms.
“Fine dust that had clung to their spacesuits became airborne in the confined cabin,” explained Michaela B. Smith, a lead researcher from the University of Technology Sydney. “[It] was subsequently inhaled, leading to respiratory issues.”
But while the physical effects were clear, the long-term toxicity of lunar dust was less certain. Previous studies using lunar simulants had painted a grim picture, suggesting the Moon's surface particles could cause significant lung damage. However, this latest research has turned that view on its head.
A Closer Look at Dust’s Impact on the Lungs
Using two of the most advanced lunar dust simulants available — LMS-1 and LHS-1 — the team exposed human lung cells to particles collected from both these simulants and urban air samples from Sydney, Australia. Their focus was on ultra-fine particulates around 2.5 micrometers in diameter or smaller — small enough to enter deep into the lungs.
Both types of dust were inhalable, but the results were unexpected. While lunar dust did cause mechanical damage to the lung cells, mainly due to its jagged structure, it was less inflammatory and oxidative — both key markers of toxicity — than city dust.
“Lunar dust will make you sneeze, cough, and feel physically irritated,” said Smith. “But unlike urban pollution, it’s not highly toxic at the cellular level.”
The discovery is a welcome development for space agencies like NASA, which are in the midst of preparing for the Artemis III mission — the first crewed lunar landing in over 50 years. Reducing the threat of lunar dust exposure has long been a priority, given how easily the abrasive particles cling to surfaces and float inside spacecraft cabins in low gravity.
According to the research team, these findings don’t erase the risks lunar dust poses — especially given the possibility of long-term exposure — but they do suggest those risks may be more manageable than previously thought.
“This contributes to the safety case for returning humans to the Moon,” Smith noted. “While this research helps reduce concerns about one critical risk factor, it’s important to remember that NASA continues to take dust exposure seriously.”
Urban dust, made up of complex mixes of pollutants including combustion particles, heavy metals, and biological debris, remains a serious global health concern. The World Health Organization attributes millions of deaths each year to air pollution-related illnesses.
In contrast, lunar dust lacks many of these chemical contaminants, which may partly explain its relatively lower toxicity. However, its sharp, glass-like structure and potential for prolonged exposure in enclosed environments mean it’s still far from safe.
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