A comparison of natural and passive methods to measure nasal deposition of utrafline aerosols using replicate human upper airway casts
- Johns Hopkins Univ., Baltimore, MD (United States)
The risk of lung cancer associated with exposure to radon progeny in underground miners has been investigated extensively by epidemiological studies. Results indicate that exposure to relatively high concentrations of radon progeny in mines is closely linked to an increased occurrence of lung cancer. Current risk estimates for the general population exposed to indoor radon are primarily based on extrapolations from studies of underground miners. To extend these data to radon exposures of the general population in homes, dosimetric modeling is being used to assess the differences in exposure-dose relationships between the mining and home environments. The human upper airways are the first filter against inhaled particles that would otherwise penetrate into the more distal respiratory tract. Understanding of nasal and oral filtration efficiency is the first step in evaluating dose to the lung from exposure to radon progeny. Of the many factors considered in assessing health effects from exposure to radon progeny, particle size and breathing rate are two important parameters that influence deposition patterns in the respiratory tract.
- Research Organization:
- Lovelace Biomedical and Environmental Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (United States). Inhalation Toxicology Research Inst.
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG02-88ER60655; AC04-76EV01013
- OSTI ID:
- 54793
- Report Number(s):
- ITRI--144; ON: DE95007526
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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