Lunar dust is deadly

A significant fraction of lunar dust could pose deadly risks to future astronauts stationed on the moon, a BBC News report says. About 1-3% of moon dust particles are too small to be coughed up or removed by the cilia lining the respiratory tract. These would lodge in the lungs and become inflamed. As in silicosis the lung responds by building scar tissue around the particles, but this reduces the effective surface of the lungs for oxygen intake. The fine particles could be absorbed directly into the bloodstream and interfere with hemoglobin’s ability to absorb oxygen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6460089.stm