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Letter: Whatever you do, don't breathe in moon dust

Published 19 February 2025

From Robert Jaggs-Fowler, Barton upon Humber, Lincolnshire, UK

When it comes to moon dust, there is an even more significant risk to astronauts – specifically, to their lungs. Since the 18th and 19th centuries, many countries have tackled lung conditions on Earth emanating from industries such as mining, for example those caused by breathing in dust particles such as silica. Regolith contains a lot of silica. Without proper attention to such threats, long-term human presence on the moon risks such conditions (25 January, p 41).

Issue no. 3531 published 22 February 2025

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