IMO (not a scientist), moon dust is basically pulverized glass, only without the benefits of weathering and erosion. So think of lots of microscopic sharp, abrasive, shards of finely pulverized volcanic rock and obsidian. Get that stuff anywhere near a mucous membrane - eyes, nose, mouth, throat - and it’s going to irritate you. At the same time, it’s pretty much intert; well, at least the parts that don’t instantly react to oxygen or humidity that is. My guess is that Schmidt is just a little more sensitive to the physical sensation of it, or perhaps he rubbed his eyes with a glove by accident, giving him an extra big dose.
And for the uninitiated, it’s well documented that everyone in the lander was physically exposed to moon dust. There was no airlock on the lander, so every excursion resulted in bringing whatever was on the suits right into the cabin. They reported that it “smelled” like burned gunpowder, so they were at least all inhaling the stuff.
I think moon dust doesn’t qualify as an allergen because breathing sharp glass dust is not something people are supposed to do without harm. IIRC ithings that are intrinsically irritant, like smoke or pepper, don’t qualify as allergens.
An allergy isn’t the allergen causing harm. An allergy is when your body FALSELY identifies something as a threat. The symptoms you experience are your body’s immune response.
So no, things that actually do the harm themselves are not allergens.
I thought mars wasn’t quite the same issue, since it has ‘weather,’ while the moon doesn’t. Its soil should have some measure of erosion, making the dust not quite as large and jagged.
You’re correct in that it’s not as sharp, but it still poses problems with getting into seals and lungs and sticking to everything. Plus it’s very toxic, probably the bigger concern for living there.
IMO (not a scientist), moon dust is basically pulverized glass, only without the benefits of weathering and erosion. So think of lots of microscopic sharp, abrasive, shards of finely pulverized volcanic rock and obsidian. Get that stuff anywhere near a mucous membrane - eyes, nose, mouth, throat - and it’s going to irritate you. At the same time, it’s pretty much intert; well, at least the parts that don’t instantly react to oxygen or humidity that is. My guess is that Schmidt is just a little more sensitive to the physical sensation of it, or perhaps he rubbed his eyes with a glove by accident, giving him an extra big dose.
And for the uninitiated, it’s well documented that everyone in the lander was physically exposed to moon dust. There was no airlock on the lander, so every excursion resulted in bringing whatever was on the suits right into the cabin. They reported that it “smelled” like burned gunpowder, so they were at least all inhaling the stuff.
I think moon dust doesn’t qualify as an allergen because breathing sharp glass dust is not something people are supposed to do without harm. IIRC ithings that are intrinsically irritant, like smoke or pepper, don’t qualify as allergens.
An allergy isn’t the allergen causing harm. An allergy is when your body FALSELY identifies something as a threat. The symptoms you experience are your body’s immune response.
So no, things that actually do the harm themselves are not allergens.
TIL I’m not allergic to conservative bullshit.
Wait… So I’m not allergic to radiation!?
Superpowers here I come!!!
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We should let him know he’s not allergic. He might be going out of his way to avoid moon dust for no reason.
astronauts are such goofballs
“I hate moon dust. It’s coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.”
“I hate Mars dust too.”
It’s actually a huge problem to solve before any rational long term settlement occurs in these places. The stuff is pretty bad.
I thought mars wasn’t quite the same issue, since it has ‘weather,’ while the moon doesn’t. Its soil should have some measure of erosion, making the dust not quite as large and jagged.
You’re correct in that it’s not as sharp, but it still poses problems with getting into seals and lungs and sticking to everything. Plus it’s very toxic, probably the bigger concern for living there.