Pulmonary and systemic immune alterations in rats exposed to airborne lunar dust.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Due to cosmic radiation bombardment and over 4 billion meteorite and micrometeoroid impacts on the airless Moon, the lunar surface is covered by a layer of fine, reactive dust. Very little is known regarding the toxicity of lunar dust on human physiology. This study assessed airborne lunar dust exposure in rats on localized pulmonary and systemic immune parameters.

Methods

Rats were exposed to 0 (air only), 20.8 (low), and 60.6 (high) mg/m³ of respirable-size lunar dust for 4 weeks (6 h/day, 5 days/week). Rats were then euthanized either 1 day, 7 days, 4 weeks, or 13 weeks after the last exposure. Peripheral blood and lung lavage fluid samples were collected for analysis. Assays included leukocyte distribution by multicolor flow cytometry and electron/f

SUBMITTER: Crucian BE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11840967 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature