Those short stroll on our only natural satellite, which was carried out by the astronauts during human lunar expeditions lasted no longer than two to three days. Effects of prolonged exposure lunar conditions on the people still have not been studied in depth, and it is possible that in fact the Moon can be toxic to people.

An international team of researchers have attempted to estimate the degree of threat that the Moon is to the human body or at least its dust-covered regolith. In the work entitled "the Toxicity of lunar dust" (Toxicity of Lunar Dust) authors headed by the Doctor of Linnarson (D. Linnarsson) examine in detail the health hazard that is a fine, powdery lunar dust is not giving rest to the astronauts of mission "Apollo", whether they are in protective suits or without them.

The study examines the following forms of exposure to particles in the lunar dust on people:

Inhalation. So far, all the negative effects of lunar dust manifested by inhalation suspension of solid particles.

Damage to the skin. The edges of the lunar regolith particles were sharp, apparently, because the lunar soil did not undergo such erosive processes, such as those that occurred on Earth.

Eye damage. It is worth to say that since the particles are able to scratch the skin, eye hazard becomes all the more obvious.

While the study underlying this work used data on known on Earth contaminants spreading in the air, and simulated lunar particle real moon dust would give much more information, if it persists after mission "Apollo" in its original form without changes associated with its delivery to our planet and long-term storage in terrestrial conditions. Scientists have concluded that only the analyses carried out on the spot, will allow us to fill the gaps in our knowledge about the toxicity of the moon.