Assessment of human exposure to gaseous pollutants

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Risk Analysis; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1989.tb01002.x· OSTI ID:5257203

Baskin, L B; Falco, J W ^[1]

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1. Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas, TX (USA)

A mathematical model to aid in assessment of human environmental exposure to volatile organic substances is presented. The model simulates the convective and diffusive transport of gas from the ambient environment into the human body by way of the respiratory and circulatory systems. Data required include easily obtained physical and chemical properties of substances as well as several estimated or measured physiological parameters. Transient and steady-state tissue concentrations resulting from an input atmospheric partial pressure are predicted. From these concentrations, an effective dose may be calculated, allowing for the determination of an exposure-response relationship based upon independently obtained dose-response data. The model's results compare favorably to experimental data on oxygen and halothane. Steady-state conditions are reached very rapidly. These results suggest that uptake of these substances is limited by both ventilation and perfusion. Rates are demonstrated to be essentially linear within the current neighborhoods. Conditions in which the primary processes of ventilation, diffusion, perfusion, and elimination limit uptake of gases are considered. Expressions describing the conditions necessary for a single process to limit gas uptake are derived. Accompanying equations for estimating tissue concentrations under these limiting conditions are presented.

• OSTI ID: 5257203
• Journal Information: Risk Analysis; (USA), Vol. 9:3; ISSN 0272-4332
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
UPTAKE
AIR POLLUTION
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
EQUATIONS
LUNGS
MAN
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RISK ASSESSMENT
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
VOLATILE MATTER
ANIMALS
BODY
MAMMALS
MATTER
ORGANS
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology