Ambient sulfate aerosol deposition in man: modeling the influence of hygroscopicity

Journal Article · Fri Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.856311· OSTI ID:5381582

Martonen, T B; Barnett, A E; Miller, F J

Atmospheric sulfate aerosols (H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, and NH/sub 4/HSO/sub 4/) are of international concern because of their global prevalence and potential irritant or toxic effects on humans. To assess hazards following inhalation exposure, the total dose delivered to the human respiratory tract and its regional distribution must be determined. The mass median aerodynamic diameter of the inhaled aerosol will influence the sites of deposition in the respiratory tract. Atmospheric sulfate aerosols are hygroscopic and will have changing particle sizes and densities as they absorb water vapor in the humid environment of the human respiratory tract. Experimental and theoretical data that describe particle size as a function of temperature and relative humidity were used in computer subroutines of an aerosol deposition model in order to calculate the dose dispersion of H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, (NH/sub 4/)/sub 2/SO/sub 4/, and NH/sub 4/HSO/sub 4/ aerosols in man. The predicted deposition patterns are very different from those of nonhygroscopic aerosols with identical inhaled mass median aerodynamic diameter values.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC
• OSTI ID: 5381582
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 63; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560306* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Man-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AEROSOLS
AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS
AMMONIUM SULFATES
ANIMALS
COLLOIDS
DEPOSITION
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISPERSIONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HUMIDITY
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYGROSCOPICITY
INHALATION
INORGANIC ACIDS
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MAN
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
ORAL CAVITY
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PRIMATES
RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
SIZE
SOLS
SULFATES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFURIC ACID
VERTEBRATES